Methods were developed to use the portable Microscribe three-dimensional digitizer to capture external morphological data from numerous sauropod appendicular elements for a biomechanical study. Digitized data was found to be useful because it could be quickly captured by the individual researcher, was cost efficient, and consisted of relatively small digital files that were easily manipulated on a standard laptop or desktop computer. The benefits of digitized data make them especially useful in morphometric, ontogentic, and biomechanical studies. However, potential problems, such as extra time needed to assemble skeletal elements and accuracy limitations of digitized data, should be considered when contemplating using a three-dimensional digitizer to capture morphological data.

Ray Wilhite. Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

KEY WORDS:  digitizing, three-dimensional, methods, computer, sauropod, Microscribe

Copyright: Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 28 March 2003
Submission: 19 November 2002  Acceptance: 27 February 2003