Tecnología 3D para hacer un soporte a Iberosuchus en el I SEAHA

Se acaba de celebrar la 1st International Conference on Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA) en el University College London en la que se ha presentado una estrategía para la contrucción de soportes ajustados a un cráneo particularmente frágil, como es el ejemplar de Aldealengua del cocodrilo del Eoceno de la Cuenca del Duero Iberosuchus. El ejemplar, que pertenece a la Sala de las Tortugas de la Universidad de Salamanca, acaba de salir de una fase de preparación realizada en la Facultad de Bellas Artes de la UCM y la última fase ha consistido en el diseño, mediante un escaneado y modelado 3D, de un soporte que proteja al ejemplar tanto durante el almacenamiento, como en una previsible futura fase de exhibición.

El resumen del poster presentado es el siguiente:

The use of 3D technology is becoming a widespread tool in conservation for paleontological heritage’s inventory, cataloging and documentation.

The 3D technology is starting to generate, with great accuracy, real and virtual replicas, replacing the molding and management needs of some of the specimens to study.

Another use is to generate packing and exhibition structures, such as the specimen here studied, a skull of the Mesoeucrocodylian Eocene crocodile Iberosuchus from the Duero Basin (Salamanca, Spain). This specimen is housed in the Sala de las Tortugas of the University of Salamanca. The skull is particularly fragile and handling for study is risky. Therefore, it was considered as a priority the protection of the fossil, giving it an adequate support that should meet the goals of protection and aesthetic that will allow its exhibition.

The support for the specimen was made from a digital copy of the sample by constructing a 3D mesh obtained by photogrammetry techniques. That digital model is used to design a structure with a complementary surface of the areas where the specimen will rest during its display.

It have been also added some digital modifications to improve the efficiency of the support.

From this digital design, it has been used a 3D printer to produce a support in ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) thermoplastic. The ABS support has a high strength, and a high heat and moisture resistance. The support has a variable thickness and are perfectly adjusted to the lower part of the specimen.

The use of 3D technology to make supports is an advantage for preservation and exhibition. The possibility of better fit the supports will improve the preservation of the specimens.

• Referencia: Marcos-Fernández, F.; Gómez, P.; Serrano, A.; Páramo, A.; Alonso-Bilbao, M.; Torres-Mijara, JN. (2015) The use of 3D Technology to make safer support for fossils. Book Abstracts of the 1st International Conference on Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology (SEAHA), University College London, 14-15 July 201: 68.
• En la imagen, Fátima Marcos durante la presentación del poster.