Almost 50 views and no thoughts from anyone?

Looks like an interesting application of technology that has potential! Do you have any examples of projectile points or lithic tools that have been scanned in?

Thanks,

Jennifer

While I know very little about this technology, what I have seen gets me very "gitty" about the potential of this new tool. IMHO, any advancement/refinement on this technology will be very helpful. I think this technology would be very helpful regarding petroglyphs.

Thank you for your feedback Jennifer, rtx2 and scalpcreek. Hearing your thoughts and feedback on this is critical for me.

The scanner can be used to scan very small items as well as large objects. As you can see in the image below I have scanned an arrowhead about the size of my thumbnail and produced accurate results.

I could easily scan the two inch dart as well as a larger stone metate. Because the scanner makes multiple passes with the lasers I can capture objects in sections and then "stich" them together with my post proudction software to make a complete model. I would love to scan a petroglyph!

Proving this technology useful in archeology is what brings me to this forum and why your feedback is so important to me. I see great potential in the use of the scanner for education, history, inspection and digitally cataloging and preserving.

The cost of the process is dependent on the size and surface properties of the specific items you would like scanned. If you have ideas and fossils or artifacts you would like scanned lets discuss.

I have a few new fossils which I will be scanning tonight and tomorrow. I will post them once I do.

Thanks for your time!

While this may be a little Ad nauseum for the readers of this forum, I did a research project on an archaeological site in the thumb of Michigan that contains a great deal of petroglyphs, both fakes and some that could be dated to pre-contact times. In my paper, I did call for laser scanning as a means of potentially identifying which ones are post-contact glyphs, and which ones are pre-contact glyphs.

If you were ever interested in doing something like this, I am in contact with the DNR unit supervisor and might be able to make arraignments to gain permission and access to the glyphs for a project like this. This is a very problematic site that has suffered from many spurious interpretations over the years since its "discovery" and, IMHO, would prove to be an excellent opportunity for both of us to further our respective research goals. If interested, drop me an email. My email address is on my profile.

Hi Pangea3D...

Very nice! (I'd have commented earlier, but just stumbled upon this.) It could be quite helpful. I know all too well that gaining an accurate perception of an object from a 2D photo is difficult.

The Evolutionary Anthropology Lab at the Univ. of Minnesota has something like this, shown at http://anthropologylabs.umn.edu/html/bone_modification.html . (Requires QuickTime.) It's really neat, but the object rotates in only one axis - been like this for a couple years now.

The technology for what you are doing is quite available, of course - it's a matter of assembling the components and arranging all the ones and zeros to drive them (better you than me - I'm retired from that game). Nice going, and good luck!

Regards, AD

RTx2- I have emailed you on this and look forward to going into more detail

AD- Thanks for posting that link. It looks like Univ. of Minnesota is using a laser scan but also photogrammetry which is a bit different. I believe a laser scanner is more accurate as it is creating 3D geometry based off of the actual object and not a 2D photo of the object.

It is intresting to see what they have setup and how they are using the technology. As far as having the model spin on only one axis that is a limitation which is easily overcome. I have created interactive applications for other industries in which you can rotate objects on any axis, zoom in/out or fly around the object or environment as if it were a video game. Making quicktime movies is also an a quick and easy option but less interactive.

Hello Pangea3d,

Petroglyphs eh? That means you can be mobile? How remote could you get without dragging a generator and gas can? For that matter, how about scanning exposures within excavated units or expoures of entire features, say 10m across? What is the size of the equipment plus operating space? For example it and you could fit into a 2m by 2m but not a 1m by 1m unit. What sort of lighting would be necessary? What about temperature extremes?

Just some thoughts for future reference. There might be a situation where a feature exposed in excavation or on survey could be captured and manipulated with this technology more readily than with 2d drawings and photos. And to reiterate other postings; very cool tech with high potential. Kudos to you.

ROC- Thank you for bringing up your questions.

I can be mobile with the Scan unit but I still require a power source and a computer. The PC can be a laptop and I think there are power sources which aren't generators that could be brought into the field. Perhaps large battery of some kind....I will have to explore that.

The scan unit is rather small....8.8' x 3.6' x 10.9 " and is about 7lbs. It could easily fit into small places but depending on the setting of the scan distance from the scanner to the object is very important. The lasers need to be relatively close to the object to capture data.

Now if there were a feature that was 10 meters across it is possible to scan it but it would have to be done in many passes. There is scan technology which may be able to capture something that large in one pass or only a couple but then you are jumping to a much high level of scanning technology. By higher level I mean the lasers are more powerful and the cost difference is astronomical.

Lighting and temp are two areas I haven't tested fully. The lasers work fine in my studio in full light or in the dark. I don't know what might happen in Arizona, for example, where there might be 110+ degrees with blaring sun. I'm willing to do some tests though in the sun to find out how things operate in sunlight. Raining today though here in Rochester, NY so it will have to wait.

OK kind of a long post but your questions are exactly the things I must consider.

Also a new scan....

Is this the same kind of technology as you are using? Neat stuff...

http://gizmodo.com/5024019/new-radiohead-video-is-shot-with-lasers-not-cameras

Jennifer

Hi Pangea3D...

Regarding powering the scanner in the field, assuming it runs on 110 VAC and doesn't draw a lot of current, you could just haul a large 12 V car-type battery (preferably with handle) along and run a garden-variety but good quality inverter (with standard 110 VAC outlets) rated safely beyond the scanner's power demand. Be sure to put in-line fuses in both the leads from the battery to the inverter. (And of course check with the scanner's manufacturer first, in case I'm missing something.) If you can get your vehicle right up to the site, just run the inverter off its battery, leaving the motor running to keep the battery charged. (An inverter is one of the objects, including tools, ham radio gear, climbing belt, and many assorted pieces of crap, that fill the extended cab in my old 4WD truck.)

AD

Jennifer

I am assuming that the scanner they are using for the Radiohead video is a similar technology but doubt very much it is the same scanner I am using. There are many types of scanners out there which have varying degrees of accuracy and function. Based off of the images from that link it doesn't look like they are displaying a solid 3D model but instead the plotted single points from the scanner. It actually looks a little "low-tech" to me but that could be a creative and artistic choice for the video.

AD

Perfect! A car battery is what I was thinking but I didn't know how to adapt it for use with my setup. I think your idea is promising and possibly the easist solution to my mobile power problem. Thank you for this suggestion!

Will it scan and plot fine lines? I can't get to the website. might be my connection.

Southcoast- www.pangea3d.com was down yesterday for an extended amount of time due to my host service. I am sorry for that. If you try today you should be able to see the images and download the 3D data if you wish.

To answer your question about fine lines I would have to see an example of what you are talking about. Do you have a photo or some other image.

I would be happy to experiment with this for you if you have a need.