Computer Aided Reconstruction of the Bog Body "Moora"
Possibilities and first results of the computer aided reconstruction of the bog body "Moora" using virtual reality techniques.
The computer based three-dimensional visualization and reconstruction of the skull of the bog body "Moora" is based on high resolution Computer Tomography scans (CT) generated in the Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology of the UKE (Director: Prof. Dr. G. Adam). The Department of Medical Informatics hosts a lot of experience working with the reconstruction and three-dimensional presentation of virtual bodies calculated from spatial image sequences. Its work focuses on medical image processing, three-dimensional visualization and virtual reality. Beyond the three-dimensional visualization of bony structures of the bog body "Moora" segmented from CT image data the virtual reassembly of individual bone fragments via computer is a special challenge. Special problems are missing parts of the body's skull and also that parts of the skull are badly deformed.
Fig.1: Three-dimensional visualization of original bones of the skull
Modern virtual reality (VR) techniques are used and have been specially developed for the three-dimensional visualization of the bog body and the reconstruction of its skull. So far these techniques have been mainly used for computer aided surgery. In preparation of the reconstruction of the skull bones of the bog body were automatically separated and individually identified. Three-dimensional models were generated based on the segmented bone fragments and presented realistically using three-dimensional visualization techniques. Aided by the software system REMODEL-VR for reconstruction and modelling of virtual bodies developed at the Department of Medical Informatics three-dimensional bone fragments can be moved and repositioned in relation to each other. Besides the interactive positioning bone fragments can also be virtually taken apart for e.g. separating strongly deformed parts from well preserved ones. It is also possible to mirror missing bony structures from existing corresponding parts of the other side to create a useful supplement.
With the help of the software system REMODEL-VR various parts of the skull of the bog body "Moora" were computer aided separated on CT images and visualized in high three-dimensional quality (Fig.1). Subsequently a first reconstruction of the skull was performed using VR-techniques. The resulting three-dimensional presentation of the re-arranged original bones of the skull can be seen in fig.2. Further work will aim to produce a computer aided reconstruction of the skull close to reality where missing bony parts are complemented meaningfully and warped parts restored to their original shape. A long-term goal of our work is the generation of the completely reconstructed bog body - the virtual "Moora".
Fig.2: Reconstruction of the skull from original bone fragments using REMODEL-VR.
Project teamDennis Säring
Dr. Henning Hassmann
Niedersächsisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Hannover.
Prof. Dr. med. Klaus Püschel
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, UKE
Dr. Thomas Göttsche
Klinik für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, UKE
medico-tec GmbH, Neuss