Yellowstone's Morning Glory Pool, Underwater Photoscan

thingiverse

I'm impressed by the scan's capabilities, even if it's not ideal for printing. What's fascinating is that all of the data below the flat plane is actually underwater, and Yellowstone's crystal-clear water makes photogrammetry possible. A better scan would have benefited from overcast lighting, a polarizing filter to reduce reflections on the water, and improved access - unfortunately, park visitors are restricted to a boardwalk on one side of the pool. This technique has tremendous potential because it offers a non-intrusive way to study and document delicate, ever-changing features. The pool's underwater geometry could aid conservation efforts, given that visitors have altered it by throwing objects into it. Having a record of this geometry would be incredibly valuable for tracking changes over time. From a technical standpoint, it's intriguing to consider how water's different index of refraction affects the scanned geometry. Even with perfect scanning, accuracy would likely be compromised due to water's properties, but this method could still effectively document change over time. We discussed this and other cool topics on the **3D Printing Today podcast**, available on iTunes or Stitcher radio. For more information, visit http://www.threedprintingtoday.com/.