During　progressive　transmission　of　3D　geometry　models,　the　transmission　order　of　details　at　different　region　has　great　effects　on　the　quality　of　reconstructed　models　at　low　bit-rate.　This　work　presents　a　rate-distortion　(R-D)　optimized　progressive　geometry　compression　scheme　to　improve　the　quality　of　reconstructed　models　by　adjusting　the　transmission　order　of　details.　In　this　scheme,　the　input　mesh　is　partitioned　into　parts,　then　each　part　is　encoded　into　bit-stream　independently,　and　the　encoded　bit-streams　are　truncated　into　segments　while　getting　the　R-D　characteristics　of　every　segment,　at　last　all　segments　are　assembled　into　a　codestream　based　on　R-D　optimization,　which　ensure　the　region　with　rich　detail　will　be　transmitted　early　and　make　the　reconstructed　mesh　achieve　better　quality　as　soon　as　possible.　Experimental　results　show　that,　as　compared　with　the　well-known　PGC　method,　the　proposed　one　provides　better　R-D　performance.　Moreover,　it　provides　a　novel　way　to　realize　the　region　of　interest　(ROI)　coding　of　3D　meshes.　©　2006　IEEE.