Digitization of the GeoMuseum's teaching collection
Dr. Yannick Bussweiler
Idea
The GeoMuseum of the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy at the University of Cologne is home to a large collection of rocks, minerals and fossils. Some of these pieces are exhibited in the museum room and are open to the public. However, most of the pieces are kept in the museum's storage rooms. This includes an extensive teaching collection of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks, which have been used extensively for teaching in the past. Our aim is to increase the attention of our lecturers at the institute (and possibly beyond) to the teaching collection by digitizing it.
A photogrammetry laboratory is currently being set up on the premises of the GeoMuseum for digitization (with funds from the Albertus Magnus Teaching Prize 2023, among others). We expect to be able to start recording the teaching collection (around 350 items) in the new year. For this purpose, the pieces will first be weighed, then photographed (from several perspectives to create a 3D model) and described petrographically. The data and information will be entered into a digital database and then shared with all lecturers at the institute.
Interim Report
The digitization of the GeoMuseum's teaching collection began in March 2024. The original estimate of a total of 350 rocks was revised upwards by 53. So far, 150 rocks have been recorded, i.e. classified, weighed, photographed and 3D models created. The latter is possible in the photogrammetry laboratory on the premises of the GeoMuseum. With the help of the USB, an easyDB installation is available as a platform in which the collected data can now be entered in a suitable data model. The 3D models can be displayed in a short video via the database user interface.
The recording of the rocks and their entry into the database will continue in order to make the entire digital collection available for use by the Department of Geosciences.
