RAPID: High-Fidelity 3-D Digitization of Paleocene Vertebrate Fossils from Colombia: A Unique Opportunity for Science and Education

RAPID：哥伦比亚古新世脊椎动物化石的高保真 3D 数字化：科学和教育的独特机会

• 批准号: 1839102
• 负责人: Jonathan Bloch
• 金额: $ 7.42万
• 依托单位: University of Florida
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2018-08-15 至 2022-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1839102&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RAPID; Fidelity; Digitization; Paleocene; Vertebrate

Fossils from the Paleocene (~58 million years ago) in northeastern Colombia provide the oldest evidence of tropical rainforest ecosystems in South America and include many new species of side-necked turtles, crocodyliforms and the largest known snake Titanoboa, estimated to have been 40-50 feet long. These fossils were collected over a seven year period and are now on loan to the Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH) where they are being described and studied. Specimens must now be returned to Colombia, requiring that research quality reproductions be produced and stored at the FLMNH for continuing and future study. Many of the specimens are large and fragile and the time frame for the completion of specimen preparation, reproduction and return to Colombia is short. The project team will develop K-12 lesson plans that incorporate 3D printed fossils for use in the classroom. All visualizations and associated data will be available through Morphosource and freely available to researchers, educators and the public.With recent advances in 3D scanning and printing technology, it is now possible to more efficiently create both virtual and physical models that are far more useful than traditional molding and casting techniques. This project will create high-fidelity 3D scans of all of the Colombian fossils on loan to the FLMNH. These scans will facilitate quick completion of scientific studies focused on cranial osteology, body size, life history, systematics, and ecology of Titanoboa. Additionally, making these data freely available on-line through Morphosource will have a lasting impact on educational communities. For example, K-12 lesson plans will be further developed to extrapolate the size of Titanoboa from measurements of 3D printed vertebrae and infer past climatic conditions based on estimated body length. Free access to these data will provide the basic resources for countless important future studies that could catalyze rapid and innovative advances in the field of vertebrate paleobiology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

哥伦比亚东北部古新世（约 5800 万年前）的化石提供了南美洲热带雨林生态系统最古老的证据，其中包括许多新物种的侧颈龟、鳄鱼和已知最大的蛇泰坦巨蟒（估计长 40-50 英尺）。这些化石是在七年的时间里收集起来的，现在被借给佛罗里达自然历史博物馆 (FLMNH)，在那里对它们进行描述和研究。 标本现在必须返回哥伦比亚，要求在 FLMNH 制作并储存研究质量的复制品，以供未来的继续研究。 许多标本又大又脆弱，完成标本制备、复制和返回哥伦比亚的时间很短。 项目团队将制定 K-12 课程计划，其中包含 3D 打印化石，供课堂使用。所有可视化和相关数据都将通过 Morphosource 提供，并免费提供给研究人员、教育工作者和公众。随着 3D 扫描和打印技术的最新进展，现在可以更有效地创建比传统成型和铸造技术有用得多的虚拟和物理模型。该项目将为借给 FLMNH 的所有哥伦比亚化石创建高保真 3D 扫描。这些扫描将有助于快速完成针对泰坦巨蟒的颅骨学、体型、生活史、系统学和生态学的科学研究。此外，通过 Morphosource 在线免费提供这些数据将对教育界产生持久影响。例如，K-12 课程计划将得到进一步开发，通过 3D 打印椎骨的测量来推断泰坦巨蟒的大小，并根据估计的体长推断过去的气候条件。免费访问这些数据将为无数重要的未来研究提供基本资源，这些研究可以促进脊椎动物古生物学领域的快速和创新进步。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。