Google Tango for 3D Cave Mapping
Donation protected
Hi everyone,
My name is Clinton Elmore and I'm a Tennessee cave explorer and geoscientist. I have been hard at work on my master thesis, which involves testing out two relatively low-cost methods that could be used to 3D map/model caves. I am comparing the accuracy and quality of three cave maps: a 3D map created via Photogrammetry, a 3D map created with a RGB-D camera/device, and a traditional cave map (DistoX2). The main cave that I have chosen as the subject of my study is Tipton-Haynes Cave [TN-WS24]; however, I have been testing these two 3D mapping methods in a range of cave conditions – to better understand the limitations each method has.
I am planning on setting up this crowd funding page for my project so that you all can help fund me and participate in this project. I hope to obtain enough funding to be able focus entirely on finishing this project up over the summer. I have decided that I don’t want to just get crowd funding without giving something back in return, so I plan on creating some 3D models of really cool things if I do get funding.
For example, I could create a very high resolution 3D-model the prehistoric jaguar tracks in Blue Spring Cave (TN) and/or the South Pole formation in Ellison’s Cave (GA) (the North Pole in Ellison’s probably wouldn’t work because it is largely see-through). The neat thing about creating a 3D model of these things is that I’ll be able to upload the models to the internet, and any caver will be able to download the 3D model and/or 3D-print a replica. What this means is that you could own their very own exact-replica of a particular cave formation or feature. You could create something like a lamp, desk decoration, pencil holder, etc., made out of an exact replica of the South Pole in Ellison’s Cave, for just one example. It would also be a great way to permanently preserve a digital copy of these spectacular things just encase something were to happen to them.
I would need around $4000 minimum to be able to focus on 3D mapping/modeling the entire summer, and more funding would always be welcomed since it would allow me to continue focusing on 3D mapping/modeling for as long as that funding holds out.
My name is Clinton Elmore and I'm a Tennessee cave explorer and geoscientist. I have been hard at work on my master thesis, which involves testing out two relatively low-cost methods that could be used to 3D map/model caves. I am comparing the accuracy and quality of three cave maps: a 3D map created via Photogrammetry, a 3D map created with a RGB-D camera/device, and a traditional cave map (DistoX2). The main cave that I have chosen as the subject of my study is Tipton-Haynes Cave [TN-WS24]; however, I have been testing these two 3D mapping methods in a range of cave conditions – to better understand the limitations each method has.
I am planning on setting up this crowd funding page for my project so that you all can help fund me and participate in this project. I hope to obtain enough funding to be able focus entirely on finishing this project up over the summer. I have decided that I don’t want to just get crowd funding without giving something back in return, so I plan on creating some 3D models of really cool things if I do get funding.
For example, I could create a very high resolution 3D-model the prehistoric jaguar tracks in Blue Spring Cave (TN) and/or the South Pole formation in Ellison’s Cave (GA) (the North Pole in Ellison’s probably wouldn’t work because it is largely see-through). The neat thing about creating a 3D model of these things is that I’ll be able to upload the models to the internet, and any caver will be able to download the 3D model and/or 3D-print a replica. What this means is that you could own their very own exact-replica of a particular cave formation or feature. You could create something like a lamp, desk decoration, pencil holder, etc., made out of an exact replica of the South Pole in Ellison’s Cave, for just one example. It would also be a great way to permanently preserve a digital copy of these spectacular things just encase something were to happen to them.
I would need around $4000 minimum to be able to focus on 3D mapping/modeling the entire summer, and more funding would always be welcomed since it would allow me to continue focusing on 3D mapping/modeling for as long as that funding holds out.
Organizer
Clinton Elmore
Organizer
Johnson City, TN
