Virtually dissect a frog in 3D – New content collaboration with University of Florida

The University of Florida and Interspectral are working together to make scientific 3D CT-scans of reptiles and amphibians accessible to researchers, educators and museums through Inside Explorer, an intuitive interactive 3D visualization experience.

In this new collaboration Interspectral have joined forces with the Florida Museum of Natural History, a museum which holds more than 40 million specimens in their collections. Working with David Blackburn, 3D scanning expert and Associate Curator of Amphibians and Reptiles at the museum, Interspectral will get access to a unique wide-ranging collection of 3D CT scanned species families including lizards, chameleons, frogs, toads, salamanders and snakes.

“CT scanning provides an opportunity for museums to unlock our collections so that students and the public can interact with the many rare, unique, and amazing specimens in our scientific collections.”

David Blackburn, Florida Museum of Natural History

The team at the Florida Museum of Natural History are pioneers in the field of 3D digitisation and renowned for the high quality of their 3D anatomical scans of biological specimens. The museum is making these data available to researchers and museums worldwide in an effort to transform the way in which vertebrates are studied.

“With this new content we have an amazing addition to our existing collection of 3D-data to offer to science centres, universities and schools. Our ambition is to enrich the learning experience by making scientific data available to the public – an ambition shared by the researchers at University of Florida.”

Richard Bremer, Interspectral

Interactive Virtual Dissection

Through Interspectral’s Inside Explorer this type of data will be made accessible to members of the public at museums and science centres, and students at schools and universities. Inside Explorer offer a unique combination of leading real time rendering capabilities and an intuitive user interface. Using touch gestures users can examine the complex 3D data in an easy and exciting way.

They will be able to virtually explore and dissect specimens without damaging these important scientific resources. Through this project and its applications in exhibits and classrooms, it is hoped that knowledge of natural history and biology will be increased.

“We are very proud of working with one the best teams in the world when it comes to 3D digitising biological specimens, the quality of data coming out from the labs is truly amazing. We see this agreement as a start on a long partnership that will benefit both the researchers and Inside Explorer users.”

Richard Bremer, Interspectral

Learn more

The new content will be made available for Inside Explorer users during spring 2018. Please contact us to learn more.