Project Title: Photogrammetry

Project Lead's Name: John Williams

Project Lead's Email: williajc@MiamiOH.edu

Project Lead's Phone: 513-529-2871

Project Lead's Division: ULB

Primary Department: Create + Innovate

Other Team Members:

• Lori Chapin
• Rachel Makarowski

List Departments Benefiting or Affected by this proposal:

This proposal will have a potential impact on all academic departments at Miami with particular importance to Anthropology, Art, Geology, Geography, and the Hefner Museum of Natural History. Additionally, because the Photogrammetry service will be housed in the Libraries Makerspace, where all students (regardless of their majors) can access and use the equipment, the photogrammetry service will have the potential to benefit students in every department. The new photogrammetry service will also benefit the Library's Steward & Sustain department to make collection items that are difficult to photograph flat (e.g. artists’ books, printing type specimens, pottery, etc.) accessible online for research and instruction in an increasingly virtual environment.

Estimated Number of Under-Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 100

Estimated Number of Graduate students affected per year (should be number who will actually use solution, not just who is it available to): 10

Describe the problem you are attempting to solve and your approach for solving that problem:

The Makerspace is a hands-on, highly collaborative, and experiential learning space located on the third floor of King Library. The Makerspace features a variety of maker equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutter/engraver, CNC mills, sewing machines, touchscreens, virtual reality headsets, teleprompters, 360 cameras, and more. Although other divisions on campus may have some of these services available for their own students, the Libraries make the opportunities available on an equal basis for all students. Additional information about the Makerspace can be found at https://libguides.lib.miamioh.edu/create/makerspace/

One of the services in Makerspace is 3D scanning, which allows us to scan physical objects in order to produce both virtual and physical replications of the original objects. The current 3D scanning capability works for regular size objects. However, we have recently had requests from faculty and students for scanning small objects such as 1-2mm rocks. There remain a number of objects that because of size, granularity, texture, and precision require newer technology. In order to accomplish this, the materials and licenses listed in the budget below are required. This will have two major results:

1. Students will be able to print with current 3D printers a much greater variety of objects.
2. Start a repository of virtual 3D objects that can be available for both printing and immersive learning exploration.

How would you describe the innovation and/or the significance of your project:

This innovative photogrammetry project is directly aligned with the Library's mission "to connect our community with the resources and personalized guidance to empower discovery, creation, and success."

Photogrammetry is the art, science, and technology of capturing 2D images, processing 2D images, and generating 3D objects. The innovation and significance of this project are threefold:

1. To capture and generate a wide range of object sizes, shapes, and surfaces.
2. To increase our current capabilities for 3D scanning.
3. To offer a service that can be portable and scalable as the equipment can be taken to objects that are not able to be moved.

Specific classes that will benefit from this new/innovative service will include ART450, HTS206, and HST400; allowing students to interact with 3D models of unique and fragile items is a key element for experiential learning, especially for online sessions. Additionally, photogrammetry has the ability to collect texture and color information and incorporate that into the final model, which will also enhance our ability to digitize and provide online access to unique materials housed in archives and museums.

How will you assess the success of the project?

The success of the project will be assessed in two ways:

1. Quantitative data, we plan to track class, student, and faculty usage and requests.
2. Qualitative data, we will collect anecdotal evidence and success stories of usage of the new service.

Another metric of success will include discussion and planning for external grants that will further support the creation of 3D objects to support active and experiential learning.

Does this proposal create continuing costs which will need to be funded? If so, how do you plan to fund those continuing costs?

Financial Information

Total Amount Requested: $16,554

Budget Details:

n/a

Please address how, if at all, this project aligns with University, Divisional, Departmental or Center strategic goals:

The project supports the four pillars of Miami RISE by creating and facilitating experiences that empower students to succeed, as well as preparing tomorrow’s leaders with innovative and inclusive learning opportunities. Additionally, the project will also support two pillars of the new Miami Global Plan: Critical and Integrative Thinking and Collaboration and Innovation.