7 Undergraduate Research, Part I (Posters)

Session showcases undergraduate research. Topics include geoscience-related fields (e.g., resources, hydrology, oceanography, climate, environmental science, geospatial, informatics, health, policy, & education). Undergraduate student/s must be the lead author/s presenters with faculty mentor/s as co-author/s. This session welcomes both poster and oral presentation submissions.

Monday, 9 March 2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
RCC, Lower Level Hall

A process and guide for 3D scanning, rendering, and animating fossils with a case study using a dinosaur tail vertabra

Paper number: 7-10
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

3D computer models are used by paleontologists for sharing anatomical data and educational purposes. There is no standard procedure for animation, model quality, and editing of animated videos. Because of that, we developed a guide for people to follow to create the same. We worked on 3D scanning vertebrae to export and make rendered animations, along with making a guide showing very important step-by-step operations to make an edited animation. We made the guide user-friendly for new users wanting to follow the same procedure. The guide covers essential steps towards scanning specimens, creating 3D models, exporting high-quality renderings, and developing informational animations for paleontologists.

To develop the guide, we acquired 3D models of the Torvosaurus and experimented with creating high-quality renderings and animations of them using the Blender and CapCut software. In the guide, we used images of the torvosaur vertebra to show the user visual demonstrations of each step in the process. The process used three different applications. Scaniverse uses a smartphone camera to acquire video capture to generate a 3D model with a surface texture. In Blender, the user imports the model, adds lighting to show greater detail, animates the model to show important structures, and exports the animation. CapCut is used for applying text and images to showcase specific structures or areas. 

With this guide, we present a standardized process for scanning natural history objects with a smartphone by taking a live camera scan of the object and exporting the scan as an object mesh into accurate 3D models that can be brought into professional editing programs. This guide is also good for generating and animating complex 3D data using a series of different programs. It also explains how to render animations and improve them using professional video editors, helping you create clear scientific visuals and documentation. This guide is already in use at the Virginia Museum of Natural History for novel 3D modeling initiatives. Future additions could include integrating different, high-resolution scanning methods and the animation of multiple models at once.

 

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411536

© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.