MATERIALS

IFGT Institut für Geowissenschaften, Eberhard-Karls-Universität
Tübingen, Tübingen (GER). Formerly Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut Tübingen (GPIT)

GPIT IFGT collection numbers

MB.R. collection numbers of MFN

MFN Museum für Naturkunde – Leibnitz-Institut für Evolutions- und
Biodiversitätsforschung an der Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin (GER) (also abbreviated HMNB, MN, or HMN in literature)

JRDI Judith River Dinosaur Institute, Malta, MT (USA)

(1) McNeel Associates 'Rhinoceros^© 3.0 NURBS modeling for Windows^®'

Rhinoceros 3.0® is a NURBS based CAD program. Versions 2.0, 3.0, and 3.0SR4 (Service Release 4) were used to obtain and process digital data. Version 4.0 is available, but was not used here. All digitizing methods described here were tested and can also be used in Version 4.0.

To curb costs we tried to use Rhinoceros 3.0® exclusively when developing new methods. Some data operations described here dealing with complex geometric shapes, however, require either a very high level of program knowledge, or are impossible in Rhinoceros®, and are thus easier performed in or require another software (position 3 below).

(2) TGS Template Graphics Software Inc. 'AMIRA 3.11' (time-limited evaluation version)

AMIRA 3.11 is a 3D visualizing and modeling system that allows creation of surfaces (3D bodies) from computer tomography (CT) data.

(3) Geomagic Corporation 'Geomagic Qualify 8.0®' (time-limited evaluation version)

Geomagic 8.0® is a suit of CAQ (computer aided quality assurance) program components that complement each other. Geomagic Studio 8.0® includes all parts, but the more limited Geomagic Qualify 8.0® is also sufficient. It was used for editing those files based on point cloud digitizing or CT scans.

(1) Immersion™ 'Microscribe 3D'

(2) Immersion™ 'Microscribe 3GL' (on loan from the Institut für Zoologie der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelm-Universität Bonn)

The Immersion Microscribe3D^© ('Microscribe', 'digitizer') is a three-dimensional mechanical point digitizer. The digitizer is easily transportable, cost effective, and reliable. The GL version of the digitizer has a longer arm, allowing for a greater reach with only a negligible loss in accuracy. The input from the Microscribe® to the computer was controlled with the foot pedal provided together with the digitizer. Various desktop and laptop PCs were employed, the least powerful being a Pentium II PC with an 800MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM, connected to the digitizer via a serial connection cable, or a USB cable in case of the Microscribe GL®.

HM and AH mechanically digitized over 100 bones in various institutions. For the description of the methods given here only the following are used:

IFGT:

GPIT 1 Plateosaurus engelhardti: dorsal 2, left ilium, left radius
GPIT 2 Plateosaurus engelhardti: left humerus, left pedal phalanx II-1
GPIT ?610 Diplodocus sp.: right metacarpal 3

JRDI:

JRDI 200 Brachylophosaurus canadensis: left dorsal rib

MFN:

MB.R.2246 Giraffatitan (Brachiosaurus) brancai: left calcaneum
MB.R.2912 Giraffatitan (Brachiosaurus) brancai: left scapula
MB.R.2249.R9 - R17 Giraffatitan (Brachiosaurus) brancai: left metacarpus and manual phalanges I-1, I-2, II-1, III-1, V-1
unnumbered Dicraeosaurus sattleri.: left scapulocoracoid, tibia, fibula, astragalus

Vertebrae were in some cases stabilized by wrapping one half in aluminum foil or a plastic film and burying this half in a box of sand. Adhesive masking tape was used to provide a base for markings on the bones and as a visual aid during digitizing, and a specially constructed variable holder was used to stabilize most medium-sized and small bones. Some very small markings must be made on the bone for digitizing, and extensive marking can be necessary in some cases. We used painter's masking tape for this purpose, choosing high quality brands with small amounts of low-power glue. These always came off the bone without damaging it, but sometimes removed paint coats from plaster fillings of damaged bone areas.