Digitising the collection : evaluating photogrammetry as a means of producing a digital, three-dimensional model

Increased demand for access to museum collections is driving a trend toward specimen digitisation. Three dimensional (3D) digital models provide researchers with rapid on-line access and augment publications.The availability of accurate 3D digital models reduces the need for museums to loan specimens, and thus reduces risk of loss and/or damage. A digital 3D model also enables multiple researchers to examine the same specimen simultaneously. This trend has direct implications for scientific illustrators, as specimen representation or reconstruction is evolving from traditional techniques to digital technologies, and from two-dimensional visualisations to three dimensionaldigital models. The following case study documents the production of 3D digital models of palæobotanical specimens at the Queensland museum using a digital single lens reflex camera (DSLR) and Agisoft PhotoScan photogrammetric software. The resulting models can be shared online, viewed using a commonly available format, and tactually manipulated using a touchscreen.