With scanning technology becoming ever easier and more comprehensive, the potential for 3D-scanned interactive models of live animals in zoos and aquariums is wide open, according to research firm Swedish ICT.

Swedish ICT has previously worked with the British Museum for a major exhibition on mummies, which saw mummified remains dating back more than 4,000 years scanned to reveal previously unknown secrets. The exhibition then used that data on installations featuring state of the art 3D x-ray CT scans, captured by the museum’s science imaging team combined with expert 3D technology to create virtual specimens that can be explored interactively using zoom, pan, rotate and peel functions on an interactive touch screen.

Swedish ICT previously worked with the British Museum to scan mummies – Photo – Swedish ICT

While scanning on live animals has been done for medical purposes, nothing has ever been released for public appreciation and with the move of CT scanning technology from analogue to digital, capabilities for safely scanning live subjects in more detail is at a much more advanced level, according to David Hughes, manager of solution development at Swedish ICT.

“The technology is moving on quite rapidly, certainly in regards to reducing radiation dosages that allow you to get better images,” said Hughes speaking exclusively to AM2. If you reduce the signal to noise ratio, you can use lower dosages because you don’t have to turn the signal up.

“It’s a bit like having a radio with static in the background where you have to turn the radio up to overcome the static. It’s the same sort of principle that if you’ve got a clean signal you can play it quieter. Using digital means you can have a nice clear signal using less emissions.”

CAT scanning on live animals has previously only been done for medical purposes – Photo – Center for Imaging science and Visualization

The advance in technology means that living creatures can be deeply scanned without harming them and Hughes believes there are several exciting applications for zoos and aquariums to engage the public from a scientific standpoint.

Swedish ICT recently collaborated with Kolmården Zoo in Sweden on an exhibition – the first ever featuring scans of living animals – with three CT scans – a moose, a penguin and a brown bear. The interactive exhibit used 3D gestures for interaction, where the user explores the animal through gestures with their arms and hands.

A bear was used in Kolmården Zoo’s exhibition – Photo – Center for Imaging science and Visualization

“We have received a lot of interest from aquariums and zoos worldwide,” said Hughes. “They see it as way of creating new visitor user experiences bringing people closer to the research.”

“In a situation where you have a sick animal, you could almost follow the story of the latest developments,” he added. “If an animal breaks a leg for example it would be possible to have a station on the public side, even near the enclosure, where you could follow the story of the animal which would bring people back regularly.

“Secondly, there’s a lot of work that goes into keeping the animals healthy and the public doesn’t really see this. Animals have problems to fight like we do. I think there’s a story to tell there which isn’t really being exposed to them.

“There’s a third area which is more about animal physiology. Animals are built differently from humans so what you thought you knew may be completely different. For example, what does a leopard look like on the inside? Why is it built the way it is? You can see the orientation of the bones and muscles and why their special capabilities are reflected in physiology. You can see something inside the animal – maybe even while you’re looking at the real thing –so you can understand why they are what they are.”