Othrophotograph of a Pleistocene Megafauna trackway. Kidney bean shaped prints in the center of the image are camelid tracks. The trackway was made between ~35,000 to ~25,700 years ago. This time period coincides with more arid conditions in the region.
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Pleistocene mega fauna track way located on the western margin of Lake Otero on White Sands Missile Range is a natural heritage site. It contains fossil footprints that provide insight on the biodiversity and migration patterns of large Ice Age mammals in Tularosa Basin. However, the scientific value of the fossil footprints is fleeting. Weathering is slowly destroying the fossil footprints because they are exposed to the elements. One way to preserve the natural heritage and scientific value of the footprints is to create a 3D model of the track way using a photogrammetry techniques. Our study demonstrates that the imaging technique can produce high-resolution orthophotographs and 3D models of the Pleistocene mega fauna track way. Digital preservation of the fossil footprints would allow future generations the ability to access and study them well after they have eroded away. Please go to the following link to 3D sfm models of the trackway:
https://sketchfab.com/drachal/models |