-scanning the real fossil;
-placing the image file in a cloud so other can access the image and the associated (meta-) data; and
-retrieving and downloading a fossil 3D scan, and the printing it out.
The scanning and printing technology has evolved rapidly in the past few years and now it is doable with a compact desktop application.
Here Dr. Aaron Wood of UF (Florida Museum of Natural History) is demonstrating a portable scanning set-up including a laptop and scanner (silver box to left in at the back of the table). The scanned image, which happens to be a megalodon shark tooth, is on the turntable, and the final scanned image is on the screen. This demonstration was done at the iDigBio-sponsored 3D Paleo-digitization Workshop held in Austin TX from April 29th until 1 May.
I've also seen several different kinds of 3D printers. Many public libraries have makers' labs, which include 3D printing, I'm told. The attached image is of a student demonstrating a small #d printer in a mobile science lab last year at the Cade Museum in Gainesville.
I'm told that these kinds of printers use a material like monofilament fishing line to fabricate the object from the image.
Right now the objects that are printed are primarily monochromatic, i.e., the color of the monofilament plastic. The new breakthroughs in the technology are being made in actually replicating the colors of the actual scanned object. This will be so cool for example, in museum displays.
I think that the application of this 3D workflow has the potential to revolutionize access to fossils in a cloud and science learning.
I have been talking with Professors in UF's College of Education and graduate students about developing a project that moves forward with this idea, with the intention of working with schools (e.g., in California and Florida, but perhaps elsewhere also) to implement this 3D project.
Anyone else interested?
I love the idea of 3D modeling- especially for use in rural areas without large ISE venues that may have immediate access to large fossil collections. Now, I am not sure how much 3-D scanning and printing costs, but I'd imagine it is incredible expensive. It makes me wonder if it would be more cost effective for institutions to order an actual fossilized specimen and have it shipped to them. True this is not an immediate process and lacks the I-can-have-it-instantly quality that 3-D printing provides educators with, but a few days of shipping really is not that long to wait for an item. Personally, I'm torn because I love this idea of utilizing 3-D scanning for Paleo-digitization, but as far as using it in the classroom, I have got to admit, I am a fan of teaching with the real thing (fossil) rather than a replica.
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