3D Scanning Flowers for Science
Posted: 07 Jan 2021, 21:01
Hello,
I am in the market for a handheld 3D scanner that would be appropriate for scanning smaller flowers in the field (outside, flowers left in the ground). The flowers are about 1-2cm long and arranged on a stalk that is 3-7 inches long (depending on the species). We are hoping to be able to scan the whole stalk with good detail of each individual flower. The flower petals are usually quite opaque, so I don't think there will be too much trouble with transparency, however some have hairs that I imagine would interfere with the scanning process. We can definitely manipulate the vegetation to remove any obstructing plants nearby, but we would likely want to leave the plants in the ground. However, we also have the option of digging them up and placing them in a pot if that would yield better results.
You can see an example of some of the flowers here:
https://hikersnotebook.blog/flora/flowers/wood-betony/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dereneato ... 879892514/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dereneaton/4835869253/
Are there any handheld scanners on the market capable of this kind of work? This is for evolutionary research applications, so we need scans that would yield accurate measurements - obviously the more accurate the better, but accurate up to 0.1 mm is acceptable. Color and texture is not a necessity, but is a useful feature for our purposes. It seems like the Artec Space Spider may be a good contender, however we would like to explore alternatives. We will likely be carrying the scanner on international flights and hiking with the equipment to remote areas, so charging time and durability are also factors to consider, although we can plan around these challenges so it's not a deal-breaker.
Additionally, can you advise as to whether structured light or laser would be better for this application?
Thank you,
~Elissa
I am in the market for a handheld 3D scanner that would be appropriate for scanning smaller flowers in the field (outside, flowers left in the ground). The flowers are about 1-2cm long and arranged on a stalk that is 3-7 inches long (depending on the species). We are hoping to be able to scan the whole stalk with good detail of each individual flower. The flower petals are usually quite opaque, so I don't think there will be too much trouble with transparency, however some have hairs that I imagine would interfere with the scanning process. We can definitely manipulate the vegetation to remove any obstructing plants nearby, but we would likely want to leave the plants in the ground. However, we also have the option of digging them up and placing them in a pot if that would yield better results.
You can see an example of some of the flowers here:
https://hikersnotebook.blog/flora/flowers/wood-betony/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dereneato ... 879892514/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dereneaton/4835869253/
Are there any handheld scanners on the market capable of this kind of work? This is for evolutionary research applications, so we need scans that would yield accurate measurements - obviously the more accurate the better, but accurate up to 0.1 mm is acceptable. Color and texture is not a necessity, but is a useful feature for our purposes. It seems like the Artec Space Spider may be a good contender, however we would like to explore alternatives. We will likely be carrying the scanner on international flights and hiking with the equipment to remote areas, so charging time and durability are also factors to consider, although we can plan around these challenges so it's not a deal-breaker.
Additionally, can you advise as to whether structured light or laser would be better for this application?
Thank you,
~Elissa