Results and insights from the NCSU Insect Museum GigaPan project

By

Bertone, Matthew
Blinn, Robert L.
Stanfield, Tanner
Dew, Kelly
Seltmann, Katja
Deans, Andrew R.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

209

Pages

115-132

Subjects

collection , gigapixel , imaging system , megapixel , panorama , specimen

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.209.3083

 

Abstract

Pinned insect specimens stored in museum collections are a fragile and valuable resource for entomological research. As such, they are usually kept away from viewing by the public and hard to access by experts. Here we present a method for mass imaging insect specimens, using GigaPan technology to achieve highly explorable, many-megapixel panoramas of insect museum drawers. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the system, and describe future avenues of collections research using this technology.