#44: 3D Mapping
The use of 3D mapping has slowly become a standard in all industries, and this is not just limited to the maps you might know as "those-things-that-show-you-directions". From orthodontic scanning to holographic drone scanning, the industry of locating where things are in real 3D space is becoming more important than ever.
3D mapping technology, or what most people in the industry now call "photogrammetry", is the practice of taking a series of overlapping photos and stitching these photos together to create a three-dimensional interactive scene of the subject. The combination of drone scanning technologies and now 3D display technologies has come together quite nicely, especially in spaces like the AEC industry.
3D mapping is more than just about mapping-as-we-know-it. We've identified a few industries in which 3D mapping can also prove useful as a practice:
- Archaeology – 3D mapping used to to render and recreate forgotten civilizations.
- Astronomy – While also used in its most practical purposes (like this NASA Moon Orbiter created by our Lead Software Architect Kyle), many a Looking Glass creators have also utilized the medium to create applications based on the galaxies (e.g. Glass Galaxy by Drew Medina and Sol by Stephen Desilets)
- Medical – Doctors, orthodontists and other medical practitioners using 3D mapping technology to study (and sometimes even operate) on the human anatomy. When you think about it, your body is a wonderland and it often takes very precise 3D maps to study the various organs, muscles and arteries that make up your anatomy.
- Science – As in any other industry that prioritizes viewing and manipulating data in 3D, the field of science should be at the top of the list. 3D mapping can make complex concepts easier to understand. As an example, scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital have used a 3D genome to improve understanding of gene regulation during development and disease.
We're excited to continue working with partners across all industries to find new (and sometimes life-changing ways) in which 3D mapping combined with 3D display can unearth previously unknown findings.
**this is part of our “100 Days of Holograms” series, where a few of us in the team at Looking Glass Factory post one new wonderful or weird (or both!) use for the Looking Glass holographic display being conjured around the world each day.
