RUI: PaleoView 3D: An Interactive Database of Paleocene / Eocene Boundry Mammals

马歇尔大学获得一笔赠款，用于开发一个基于网络的北美古新世晚期和始新世早期哺乳动物化石的交互式数据库，该数据库将成为古生物学家，生物学家，生态学家，系统学家和功能形态学家的宝贵资源。新生代最剧烈的温度变化发生在古新世晚期和始新世早期。这种全球变暖（古新世-始新世最高温度）对世界各地的生态系统产生了广泛的影响，影响到海洋和陆地生物。古新世晚期/始新世早期化石记录的研究对于了解气候变化对地球生物群的影响和现代分支的起源至关重要。这个名为“Paleoview 3D”的项目将是一个交互式3D模型库，其中包括来自20个博物馆的650多个化石标本。这些模型的数据将通过高精度激光扫描仪获取，并转换为高分辨率的表面模型，可以在2D或3D中查看，由用户随意放大和旋转。简单的测量（即，线性距离、周长和弧）可以直接在网站上用简单的点和点击特征来制作。用户还可以下载模型作为数据文件，以便利用CAD，GIS或3D测量软件进行更复杂的3D测量。除了化石模型，从这个数据库访问的相关信息将包括：1）详细的地点和年龄/范围，2）物种的描述性叙述，3）收集历史，4）每个物种的参考文献的综合列表，以及5）任何链接到其他在线数据库或博物馆网站，有关于标本和/或物种的相关信息。该项目的每个方面都将包括本科生的参与，从标本制备，扫描，3D模型开发，数据库管理，教学资源开发，到网页设计和网站实施。鉴于在这个数据库的发展所涉及的活动的多样性，学生将从许多专业。教学资源将包括古新世/始新世哺乳动物的非技术描述和艺术重建，以及科学教育专业设计的K-12课堂练习。参与该项目将为本科生提供最先进的技术，软件，网页设计和团队合作的宝贵经验。PaleoView 3D提供了新颖的数据库设计，其重点是表面结构，交互功能，以及查看，测量和下载选项的范围。它将提供对通常非常有限的资源的即时访问。此外，它不仅仅是一个化石图像数据库; 3D模型数据将刺激对化石的形态学和系统学进行定量研究，从全球温度大幅变化和动物区系更替的时期开始。

Marshall University is awarded a grant to develop a web-based interactive database of late Paleocene and early Eocene aged mammalian fossils from North America that will become an invaluable resource for paleontologists, mammalogists, ecologists, systematists, and functional morphologists. The most dramatic temperature change of the Cenozoic occurred during the late Paleocene and early Eocene. This global warming (the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum) had an extensive impact on ecosystems world-wide, affecting both marine and terrestrial organisms. Study of the late Paleocene/early Eocene fossil record is essential to understanding the consequences of climatic change on the Earth's biota and the origins of modern clades. This project, "Paleoview3D", will be an interactive 3D model library of over 650 fossil specimens from 20 museums. Data for these models will be acquired with a high precision laser scanner and converted into high-resolution surface models that can be viewed in either 2D or 3D, magnified and rotated at will by the user. Simple measurements (i.e., linear distance, circumference, and arcs) of each model can be made directly on the web-site with a simple point and click feature. Users will also be able download models as data files so that more sophisticated 3D measurements can be made utilizing CAD, GIS, or 3D measurement software. In addition to the fossil models, the associated information accessible from this database will include: 1) detailed locality and age/range, 2) descriptive narrative of species, 3) collection history, 4) comprehensive lists of references for each species, and 5) any link available to other on-line databases or museum sites that have pertinent information about either the specimen and/or species. Every aspect of this project will include undergraduate participation, from specimen preparation, scanning, 3D model development, database management, development of teaching resources, to web design and website implementation. Given the diversity of activities involved in the development of this database, students will be drawn from many majors. Teaching resources will include non-technical descriptions and artistic reconstructions of Paleocene/Eocene mammals and K-12 classroom exercises designed by Science Education majors. Involvement in the project will give undergraduates invaluable experience with state of the art technology, software, web-design, and teamwork. PaleoView3D offers novel database design with its focus on surface structure, interactive capabilities, and its range of viewing, measuring, and download options. It will provide immediate access to what is typically a very limited resource. Furthermore, it is more than just a fossil image database; the 3D model data will stimulate quantitative research in morphology and systematics on fossils from a time of substantial global temperature change and faunal turnover.