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Scansite Brings Groundbreaking Technology to Researchers of Sue, the $8.4 Million Dinosaur.


SAN ANSELMO San Anselmo (săn ănsĕl`mō), city (1990 pop. 11,743), Marin co., W Calif., near San Francisco; inc. 1907. It is mostly residential. San Francisco Theological Seminary is there. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17 1997--Scansite, a service bureau focused completely on 3D digital cloning, announces the creation of the first 3D scanned database of Sue, the $8.4 million Tyrannosaurus Tyrannosaurus (tīrăn'ōsôr`əs, tĭr–) [Gr.,=tyrant lizard], member of a family, Tyrannosauridae, of bipedal carnivorous saurischian dinosaurs characterized by having strong hind limbs, a muscular tail, and short  Rex.

In partnership with leading edge scientific researcher Dave Marrs of Dinometrics, the two have teamed up to provide advanced methods for paleontology paleontology (pā'lēəntŏl`əjē) [Gr.,= study of early beings], science of the life of past geologic periods based on fossil remains.  research and archiving. This venture introduces an exciting new way for researchers of Sue and other artifacts artifacts

see specimen artifacts.
 to accurately study rare and fragile specimens without harming the original subjects.

With Dinometrics, Scansite is currently developing exclusive 3D visualization on Sue, and other important museum specimens, demonstrating to the scientific community the powerful advantages of this technology. This groundbreaking work has already attracted the likes of CNN CNN
 or Cable News Network

Subsidiary company of Turner Broadcasting Systems. It was created by Ted Turner in 1980 to present 24-hour live news broadcasts, using satellites to transmit reports from news bureaus around the world.
 News to the Dinometrics and Scansite California locations. Additional programs are scheduled to document the 3D modeling and kinematic kin·e·mat·ics  
n. (used with a sing. verb)
The branch of mechanics that studies the motion of a body or a system of bodies without consideration given to its mass or the forces acting on it.
 studies currently undertaken with Sue.

The impressive advantages of generating 3D digitized clones of Sue and other fossilized fos·sil·ize  
v. fos·sil·ized, fos·sil·iz·ing, fos·sil·iz·es

v.tr.
1. To convert into a fossil.

2. To make outmoded or inflexible with time; antiquate.

v.intr.
 specimens are creating several rumblings in the paleontologist community. Among those currently working with Scansite and Dinometrics is Dr. Robert Chandler Dr. Robert F. Chandler, Jr., 1988 winner of the World Food Prize, was an individual whose work touched all corners of the globe, from Asia and the Far East to Africa and Latin America. Biographical information
Dr.
, the noted discoverer of Titanis, a giant extinct genus of "Killer Bird."

Chandler and other researchers are utilizing scanning technology to help them further unravel the mysteries of these magnificent creatures.

"3D laser scanning offers distinct advantages for museum curators, archivists, scientists and effects artists alike. It's an unrivaled tool for fossil archiving, transporting, handling, manipulating, analysis and measuring, mounting, reconstruction and research. Once a fossil is scanned, the digital 3D versions is so accurate that the original need never be disturbed or subjected to risky handling ever again. This is especially critical as we see fossils break new value barriers as with Sue, the now famous T. Rex T. rex, T. Rex or T-Rex may refer to:
  • Tyrannosaurus rex, a large carnivorous dinosaur
  • Tachyoryctes rex, the King Mole Rat
  • Thoristella rex, a species of Thoristella
  • Trialeurodes rex
 recently sold to the Chicago Field Museum for a record 8.4 million dollars," said Lisa Federici, founder and operator of Scansite.

"Inevitably, back-up 'virtual versions' of these priceless fossils must replace the real thing when it comes to their handling. And for research purposes, these digitally scanned files are now so accurate that they surpass the real objects when examining fine details, taking measurements and dissecting dis·sect  
tr.v. dis·sect·ed, dis·sect·ing, dis·sects
1. To cut apart or separate (tissue), especially for anatomical study.

2.
 them. This digital information can also be used to create precise duplicate casts at any scale -- a feat not possible by any other means. If we only had this technology during World War II Technology during World War II played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the war. Much of it had begun development during the interwar years of the 1920s and 1930s, some was developed in response to lessons learned during the war, and yet more was only beginning to be , we'd still be able to study all those precious fossils lost simply by referring to their digital masters," said "Dino" Dave Marrs.

"We are very excited about our current projects. With the advent of this technology and for the first time in history, fragile ancient artifacts can be shipped all over the globe, from one researcher to the next, to be studied without degradation or harm to the original article. Our video and laser based 3D digitizers can scan a specimen and generate a digital model accurate up to 0.125 mm. Once a database is created, it can be copied and shipped anywhere in the world for researchers to analyze and manipulate. We are essentially opening the doors for countless individuals and institutions who wish to gain access to information that has traditionally been reserved for a select few. This is a great moment for the scientific research community," said Ms. Federici.

About "Dino" Dave Marrs

"Dino" Dave Marrs is a dinosaur reconstruction expert and is among the world's foremost dinosaur illustrator-animators. He is the founder of Dinometrics, a company dedicated to computer applications in dinosaur research, and The Dinocardz Company, producers/publishers of high-end dinosaur images. He is also author and illustrator of The Building of Dinosaurs. Research for this book has yielded the first comprehensive 3D database of biomechanics and functional morphology for dinosaurs, the foundation for Dinometrics interactive programs.

About Scansite

Fueled by academy award winning technology invented and patented by Cyberware(TM), Scansite is a service bureau open to the public that focuses specifically on 3D digital cloning. Scansite houses four different rapid 3D digitizing scanners to cater to clients' specific needs.

Scansite headquarters is located in the historic Tamalpais Theater Building at 330 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard Sir Francis Drake Boulevard is an east-west arterial road in Marin County, California, running from just west of the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge (where it intersects with Interstate 580) to the trailhead for Point Reyes Lighthouse at the end of the Point Reyes Peninsula.  in San Anselmo, CA. For more information about Scansite's 3D digital cloning services contact their office at 415/256-9420 or visit them on the world wide web at www.slip.net/~scansite/ .

CONTACT: Scansite

Lisa Federici, 415/256-9420

scansite@slip.net
COPYRIGHT 1997 Business Wire
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1997, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Business Wire
Date:Oct 17, 1997
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