Cal Poly Humboldt Library created the first 3D Digital Herbarium, a student-powered project that aims to increase access to plant science. Students working with the 3D Digital Herbarium use innovative technologies to create interactive 3D models of local flora that help users visualize, identify, and learn about plants, their habitats, and life cycles, and connect with information from various Herbaria. The 3D Digital Herbarium is growing thanks to a multi-disciplinary effort with Botany and Computer Science students. The Library team is led by programmer and project manager, AJ Bealum (‘22, Computer Science). They collect each plant and photograph them at multiple angles to create a 360-degree view of each. The team also developed software and a website to showcase the models—which can be viewed in both augmented or virtual reality—and optimized models for phones and touchscreens.

Additional funding will support the hiring of student assistants to continue developing and expanding this project so that the Vertebrate Museum and other disciplines can use this Cal Poly Humboldt-built 3D exhibit tool. Students working on the project will gain incredible skills using emergent technology and publish their 3D models and annotations.

Students are learning photogrammetry, 3D modeling, researching and publishing annotations about a variety of subject matter. This new form of scholarship provides interactive and immersive learning experiences.