Virtual Museum Project (D4)
Project PI: Tim Rowe
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This project will produce research-quality high resolution 3-D models of fragile materials from museum, gallery and special collections to be distributed via the Web as interactive exhibits, on CD-ROM, and as server-based objects that can be combined with other materials in instructional or research modules. Using non-destructive imaging of fragile artifacts, 3-D modeling, and multimedia, this project will break new ground in the use of Intel platforms running Windows NT rather than the more traditional approaches of UNIX workstations. Digitizing technologies will include high resolution X-ray Computed Tomographic scanning and laser surface scanning to digitize and build 3-D models of objects that are the focus of ongoing research programs worldwide in the humanities, fine arts, and natural history.
TECHNICAL CHALLENGES
The challenge will be to migrate the critical components of this project such as digitization of critical details of complex 3-D objects; 3-D modeling of huge datasets (1 gig/object); and development of delivery interface for these objects across a variety of distribution options from a traditional UNIX applications environment to a system of Intel-based Windows NT machines.
IMPACT
The project will digitize, and make available for worldwide access, some of the most significant objects in the special collections of The University, including sculpture from the Huntington Art Gallery, antiquities from the Harry Ransom Center for Study of the Humanities, and dinosaurs from the Texas Memorial Museum. With the implementation on Intel platforms, the project will be able to showcase performance results in quality 3-D modeling to a global audience of professional researchers, teachers and students. The 3-D datasets will also be distributed as .STL files for physical rendering using a growing diversity of rendering technologies.
EQUIPMENT
The project will require 14 Pentium Pro workstations for the 3-D modeling as well as two Quad servers. The systems will be connected via an Ethernet network.
RESOURCES
Faculty and staff from the Center for Instructional Technologies, the Colleges of Natural Sciences and Fine Arts with expertise in multimedia production, CD-ROM publishing, Web publishing, Web databases, image processing; and archiving will participate in the project. The department of Geologic Sciences will provide access to a high resolution X-ray computed Tomographic scanner
BENEFITS TO INTEL
Intel platforms will be used to create and deliver 3-D models of priceless artifacts and objects for use by a worldwide community. Previously, this work would be restricted to custom graphics UNIX workstations. This project will serve as a proof-of-concept for migrating these computationally intensive tasks to Intel architectures. Additionally, because of the wide interest in these objects, the public audience for this Intel-based project will be quite large.
PROJECT ORIENTED WEB SITES