Peter Dawood
Research Mentor: Cristina Prall
Mentor Department: Division of Anatomical Sciences, Medicine
Author(s): Not Available
Session: Session 6 (3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Creative Project
Abstract
Creating effective educational resources is an essential aspect of training future healthcare professionals. Within the field of human anatomy, in particular, several topics benefit greatly from having more advanced resources available due to their complex and multi-dimensional nature, such as the skeletal system. To help provide better visual resources for students without necessitating the need for in-person and hands-on work, the BlueLink project at the University of Michigan is committed to continually creating, publishing, and updating accurate 3D anatomical models, primarily bones, as a tool for improving education. A significant part, and the first step, of the project involves obtaining 3D renderings of the models using a variety of tools and software technologies, including cameras, Photocatch, and scanning devices such as EinScan Pro and its software. Once a scan has been completed, it is then passed on to editing, where tools such as Adobe Photoshop and Meshmixer may be used to refine any imperfections or gaps in the scan while retaining its complete anatomical accuracy. After passing through an approval process, the scan is then uploaded to the Sketchfab 3D model viewer, where final touches are made before being published to the public BlueLink Sketchfab page. Over time, an expansive (and ever-growing) database has been accumulated on the website, containing over 100 models of anatomical specimens. As a result, it provides a free, accurate, and accessible tool for students of many disciplines, especially aspiring healthcare students, to use while pursuing their studies.
