Meeting Abstract
One of the most important goals of collections-based research is accurate and life-like representation of specimens that can be widely shared and used by scientists for a host of questions. The Digital Life team (www.digitallife3d.org) based at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst has focused on creating devices and devising techniques for creating lifelife 3D models of living organisms, or of organisms that appear as in life(e.g., egg shells), yet are dead. Our goal was to create camera gear that used the principle of photogrammetry, the process of converting 2D digital images to 3D models. Through work with a large group of engineers, animators, photographers and other researchers, we were able to create specialized gear (Beastcam technology) that allowed us to create high-resolution 3D models of a range of species, including live frogs and lizards, as well as other organisms. These 3D models offer significant value for a range of inquiries, including the ability to create 3D digital “voucher” specimens for collections-based research. These specimens also allow researchers to investigate a whole new line of research that was not possible with typical depictions of museum specimens.
