3D scanning Mer-Neith-it-es – Archaeologists excavate 2,500-year-old mummy as seen on ABC 7.30
The coffin had been at Sydney University for more than 150 years but nobody realised it was full of human remains but ‘Who is inside the coffin?’ investigation lead and Senior Curator Nicolson Museum Dr Jamie Fraser said.
“The latest modern technology is being used to try to solve this ancient mystery. The first step is to laser-image the coffin and its contents to create a high-resolution 3-D model” Julia Holman ABC 7.30 Reporter.
Challenge:
Sydney University wanted an accurate digital record of Mer-Neith-it-es to be used for further research and to play an integral part in the new exhibition. This meant capturing high fidelity geometry and high-resolution colour. The coffin and its contents were extremely fragile and at no point could the scanners or it’s accessories touch any part of the coffin or contents.
Solution:
The engineers used a hybrid approach of 3D laser scanning and photogrammetry.
At no point could the digital capturing process use dots, or other data alignment techniques meaning our strategy using a combination of non-contact scanners was the preferred method of capture.
To ensure data capture and photography of the complete coffin, a suspended yet supported framework was erected that didn’t impede data capture or photography.
This enabled both high quality geometry and high-resolution colour as an accurate archival record.
Result:
3D Scanning Mer-neith-it-es collected over 34992310 Polygons and combined it with thousands of high-resolution photographs capturing 2684354560 bit texcels taking weeks to stitch every pixel and polygon back together
‘We have captured a very accurate archival record’, says Shane Rolton Managing Director Wysiwyg 3D.
Not only was Dr Jamie Fraser, ecstatic at the result but the project gathered attention worldwide from historians, archeologists, museum researchers and other 3D Experts.
The Mer-Neith-it-es’ coffin, along with three others owned by the Nicholson Museum, will be exhibited in a museum on the university grounds
Also seen on Yahoo News.
and the Washington Post..
For the full article on ABC News Visit Here.
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