Three-dimensional (3D) modeling has always been an important part of paleontological research. Generally these 3D models have been made with fiberglass and molds. It is only recently that highly accurate computer models have been developed. As a demonstration of the utility of this technique, part of the brain case of a Mosasaur (Cretaceous swimming reptile) was scanned with a laser at very high resolution (100 µm = 0.1 mm) to create a digital model using a method developed by the National Research Council of Canada, now commercially available. The results of this test indicate that for most paleontological applications a 100 µm resolution is acceptable.
Computer generated models are superior to their predecessors in that 1) they are relatively easy to produce; 2) as many copies as requires can be produced almost instantaneously; 3) the virtual copies produced can be shared via the Internet to virtually anywhere in the world; 4) reconstruction of fossils is easily carried out on the computer; and 5) using specialized manufacturing machines highly accurate physical copies
of fossil specimens can be generated.Patrick D. Lyons, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
Marc Rioux, Visual Information Technology Group, Institute for Information Technology, National Research Council, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0R6, Canada
R. Timothy Patterson, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada