This work presents a methodology for adaptive generation of 2D and 3D finite-element meshes using geometric modeling with multi- regions and parametric surfaces. The adaptive strategy adopted in this methodology is based on independent refinements of curves, surfaces and solids. Initially, the model´s curves are refined using a binary-partition algorithm in parametric space. The discratizetion of these curves is used as input for the refinement of adjacent surfaces. Surface discretization is also performed in parametric space and employs a quadtree-based refinement coupled to an advancing-front technique for the generation of an unstructured triangulation. These surface meshes are used as input for the refinement adjacent volumetric domains. Volume discretization combines an octree refinement with an advancing-front technique to generate an unstructural mesh of tetrahedral elements. In all stages of the adaptive strategy, the refinement of curves, surface meshes and solid meshes is based on estimated numerical errors associated to the mesh of the previous step in the adaptive process. In addition, curve and surface refinement takes into account metric distortions between parametric and Cartesian spaces and high curvatures of the model´s geometric entities. The adaptive strategies are implemented in two different modelers: MTOOL (2D) and MG (3D), which are responsible for the creation of a geometric model with multi-regions, where for case 3D the curves and surfaces are represented by NURBS, and for the interactive and automatic finite-element mesh generation associated to surfaces and solid regions. Numerical examples of the simulation of engineering problems are presented in order to validate the methodology proposed in this work.