3D Lab
Head: Prof. Dr. Martin Langner
Team: Thorben Langer, Svend Göke, André Müller
The 3D Lab deals with 3D data of collection objects. It was founded in 2017 as part of the Campuslab Digitisation and Computational Analytics. Its task is to research the adequate acquisition, presentation and analysis of these data. Optical scanning techniques and methods of shape comparison and shape analysis are used in particular. It cooperates with the SUB, the gwdg and various museums and collections in and outside of Göttingen.
The 3D Laboratory conducts basic and methodological research in the acquisition and analysis of three-dimensional artefacts. Using precise and accurately measured 3D scans of sculptures, vessels, furniture, coins or other everyday objects we are not only preserving cultural artefacts, but furthermore methodologically developing the field of 3D digitisation. Going from established methods, such as photogrammetry, RTI or structured light scanning, we are developing experimental and innovative approaches. Reflective, translucent, transparent or microstructural surfaces for example are still difficult to handle due to their materiality and pose a challenge for 3D digitisation.
On one hand we explore the aquisition methods, on the other hand we approach the documentation, presentation and quantitative analysis of the 3D data itself. For the analysis of text and language there are already large standardised corpora and editions to work with. For 3D models, however, such a scientific repository does not exist yet and the work in that field is still rudimentary. Therefore, we are interested in establishing and working with large repositories of 3D data, to explore and combine both: quantitative methods such as shape analysis and shape correspondence as well as qualitative methods such as shape comparison. With this we are looking for patterns and features in the data to investigate cultural and social phenomena.
In the project "Schemata", for example, we are developing a suitable 3D classification of ancient terracotta figures. They seem to follow different standardised formulas on one hand, but are variable on certain properties on the other. Classical Archaeologists are still trying to understand the meaning of those figures. We are interested in how the artefacts can be modelled in a way appropriate for their complexity. For this purpose we are developing object mining methods specifically for the classification and categorisation of the cultural assests represented by the 3D data.
In other words, we are looking for suitable methods of acquiring, structuring, presenting and analysing object data in the field of material cultural heritage.
You can find more information about the Lab's activities here.