Laser Scanning: 3D Analysis of Biological Surfaces

This chapter introduces laser scanning to students and researchers who are interested in using this three-dimensional (3D) acquisition method for biological research. Laser scanning is yet another tool for transforming biological structures into 3D models that contain useful geometric and topological information. Current laser scanning technology makes it relatively straightforward to acquire 3D data for visualization purposes. However, there are many additional challenges that are necessary to overcome if one is interested in collecting and analyzing data from their laser-scanned 3D models. In this chapter, I review some basic concepts, including what laser scanning is, reasons for using laser scanning in biological research, how to choose a laser scanner, and how to use a laser scanner to acquire 3D data, and I provide some examples of what to do with 3D data after they have been acquired.