Our society is facing an enormous increase in data and information generation. At RISE Interactive C-studio we believe that the most important tools to tackle this tidal wave of information are various kinds of visualization and perceptualization methodology.
RISE Interactive C-Studio is based in Norrköping, Sweden. The studio works with project based applied research, development and experimental production within the field of visualization and interaction design. With a practical and prototype driven approach C-studio works with projects within many areas such as immersive display environments, stereoscopic 3D technology, interaction design, information and geo visualization, ambient visualization, exhibition design etc.
By working in close collaboration with partners from many areas C-Studio is bridging the gap between academy, industry, public sector and the art and cultural scene. The goal is always to bring innovation to the society.
RISE Interactive C-Studio is also part of “Visualization Center C”, a collaboration between the Municipality of Norrköping, Linköping University, Norrköping Science Park and RISE Interactive. The center constitutes a focal point for visualization research, education and development in northern Europe. The center hosts a large-scale arena for public visits including an immersive dome theatre seating 100 people. The center closely collaborates with key industrial partners and constitutes a hub for knowledge dissemination and commercial collaborations.
For more information about the studio, please contact Arianit Kurti, studio director, Email: arianit.kurti [at] tii.se
C-studio works with a rich variety of different partners and clients from industry, academy, industry, public sector and the art and cultural scene. Below some of the core partners and clients are listed:
Academic partners:
Linköping University - Division of Information Technology
Centre for Medical Imaging and Visualization - CMIV
Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research - CSPR
Linköping University - Department of Management and Engineering
Swedish Glass Research Institute
Industry partners AND CLIENTS:
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery
Sectra Imtec AB
Doberman
KF - Näthandel
C3 Technologies
SAAB Rapid 3D Mapping
Hyresbostäder
Hüttinger Exhibition Engineering
Public Sector PARTNERS:
Vinnova
City of Norrköping
City of Stockholm
City of Gothenburg
City of Linköping
SMHI - Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute
Art and Cultural organizations:
Brittish museum, London, UK
Natural History Museum, London, UK
Singapore Science Center, Singapore, Singapore
Spokane Science Center, Spokane, US
Glasgow Science Center, Glasgow, UK
Eureka Science Center, San Sebastian, Spain
National Museum of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden
Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden
Innovatum, Trollhättan, Sweden
Norrköping Art Museum, Norrköping, Sweden
New Media Meeting
Riksteatern
Case: Mummy Explorer
In this project we have teamed up with The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm, Centre for Medical Imaging and Visualization (CMIV), Autodesk and FARO in a state-of-the-art mummy visualization project where we have explored the most recent advances within reality capture, interactive visualization and 3D printing.
As part of the development of a new permanent Egyptian exhibition, The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm is making their collection of mummies available in digital form for the first time.
Within this project mummies from the museum’s collection have been digitized in 3D using the latest 3D reality capture technology and have then made available to museum visitors through a interactive exhibition experience using the Inside Explorer Table and trough a number of 3D prints.
This project aim to inspire and set a new standard for how museums work with 3D digitization, interactive visualization and 3D printing to make collections more accessible to other museums, researchers and museum visitors. In this project we worked with mummies, but the same methods could of course be used on any objects, such as natural history objects and other historical artifacts.
“The technology will enable our visitors to gain a deeper understanding of the once living man behind the linen bandages. Layer by layer, the visitor can unwrap the mummy and gain knowledge of the individual's sex, age, living conditions and beliefs. With help from the technology, the mummies become so much stronger mediators of knowledge of our past.”
- Elna Nord, Exhibition Producer, The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities in Stockholm
1) CAPTURE and EXPLORE THE INTERIOR: DUAL ENERGY CT SCANNING
In this project six mummies have been CT scanned at CMIV in Linköping, Sweden. The mummies were shipped from the Mediterranean museum in Stockholm to Linköping in special crates. The shipping was planned in detail and was overseen by several experts to make sure the mummies were not harmed during the process.
At CMIV the mummies were scanned in a dual energy Siemens Somatom Definition Flash CT scanner. Special protocols developed by the radiology and forensic experts at CMIV were used to make sure that the mummies were captured in the best way possible.
By using a dual energy CT scanner its possible not only to reveal the interior in very high detail, but it it also reveal the type of material from which different objects inside the mummy are made. The dual energy technique also enables these objects to be visualized individually in greater detail.
2) CAPTURE THE EXTERIOR: PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND LASER SCANNING
Through a collaboration with California-based 3D design, engineering and entertainment software leader, Autodesk and industry leading 3D measurement technology company, FARO, the intricate surfaces, colors and textures of the mummy, cartonnage and the sarcophagus have been surface scanned using a combination of photogrammetry and laser scanning reality capture methods. The data captured is then processed with Autodesk ReCap software and the result is a textured surface mesh with extreme detail.
3) COMBINING THE DATA AND CREATING AN INTERACTIVE USER EXPERIENCE
The volumetric data from CT scanning and the 3D mesh data and textures from surface scanning is combined in the Inside Explorer interactive visualisation table, creating a true digital representation of the mummy with a high level of detail.
Museum researchers or visitors are then able to use simple multi-touch gestures to explore the mummy as a whole or zoom in to see fine detail, such as carving marks on the sarcophagus. They can also remove the outer casings, unwrap the mummy, and peel off layers from the body to reveal anatomy and artifacts wrapped together with the body.
4) FROM ATOMS TO BITS TO ATOMS – CREATING A TACTILE EXPERIENCE
To make the mummy even more accessible, parts of the digital model have been recreated using 3D printing technology. The 3D printed objects can be used to enhance the visitor experience, in educational activities or to improve access for visually impaired visitors.
One astonishing example of how 3D printing can be used is a golden amulet in the shape of a falcon embedded in the mummy. The Falcon have been digitized CT and then by using a combination of modern printing technology and traditional metal casting, the amulet has been recreated to once again take physical form.
The Golden Falcon and other amulets seen in the CT scanning.
The 3D printed copy of the falcon in gold-plated brass.
Visitors are offered the unique experience to touch, hold and physically explore an exact copy of the golden amulet with their own hands, an amulet that was wrapped with the mummy over 2000 years ago and still remains hidden within its folds.
The set of Sarcophaguses have been printed in a full color using a state-of-the-art CMYK 3D printer. The result is very high detail and a photorealistic impression.
SEE IT IN ACTION
The final result of this project is presented in the permanent Egyptian exhibition at the The Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet) in Stockholm. For more information and opening times please visit the museum website.
You can also experience this project at Autodesk Gallery at One Market in San Francisco. For more information and opening times please visit The Gallery website.
GET IN TOUCH
Are you a museum professional, journalist, tech-junkie interested in getting more information about this project or about 3D digitization in general, please contact us using insideexplorer [at] tii.se.
Daniel Eriksson
Arianit Kurti
Madeleine Kusoffsky
Nina Lemon
David Sellin
Amanda Sundberg
The Interactive Institute have provided a Inside Explorer Table so visitors to the Museum will have an opportunity to use the new non-invasive technology and discover new ways of looking at life and death in Early Egypt.
The Interactive Institute and Visualization Center C have worked together with scientists at the Natural History Museum to present the visitors with an unprecedented hands-on experience presenting some the musueums most valuable objects.