Odontogrammetry University of Arkansas visit
On the 20th of August, Danny Sims-Waterhouse visited Prof. Peter Ungar at the University of Arkansas Anthropology Department. The purpose of the visit was to deliver a portable photogrammetry system, developed by the Manufacturing Metrology Team, for the digitisation of mammalian teeth. The photogrammetry system was developed for the measurement of teeth on massively different scales: from mice to mastodon. As can be seen in the figure, the differences in scale are significant, making a conventional measurement system unsuitable.
The system was developed to be highly portable in order to be easily transported to any location in the world in carry-on luggage. Prof. Peter Ungar plans to use the system in order to develop an “Atlas” of mammalian teeth by digitising the teeth of a large range of mammals. This data will then allow Prof. Ungar to verify the hypothesis that generalised patterns of adaptability exist in the mammalian dentition.
Old Main, location of the UARK Anthropology Department
A Mastadon jaw (left) next to a mouse jaw (right)
Fossilised jaw on the measurement system