This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Scanning for the future


These traditional-style, undistorted elevations are images created from the point cloud files captured of Southern Rwy. No. 385. Since the scanner measured the exact distance to each point on the en-


P.A. out of its Mount Arlington, New Jersey, office and is presently in charge of its Laser Scanning Division. On this particular gray November


day, Kevin approached me and asked if I knew of any steam locomotives that he could possibly scan. I told him I’d have to check but that I thought it was entirely possible. Then, I related to him the news I had heard from Rapido. This seemed to pique his interest and he told me he would try to get more in- formation about that company’s scan- ning from their website.


When I arrived at work that day, one of the first people I ran into was Walt Lankenau from RAILFAN & RAILROAD magazine. Walt knows a lot of people in the railroad community, so I related


gine from four corner locations, the information can be output as 3-D images, scale elevations, perspectives, or even as “walka- rounds.” One can obtain the dimensions and shape of any detail.


Kevin’s request for a locomotive to scan. Walt said he’d see what he could find, but warned that several of the short- lines he knew of had already folded their summer/fall operations. Perhaps a museum could accommodate us. That afternoon Walt was able to con- tact Steven Hepler from the Whippany Railway Museum in Whippany, New Jersey. Being friends with Steven, Wal- ter received permission for a group of us to scan their former Southern Rwy. No. 385, a Baldwin-built, Class H-4 2-8-0 Consolidation. This particular locomo- tive was built in 1907 and is in non-oper- ating condition and restored as a static display. With the museum’s blessing, it seemed everything was set to go– but then there’s the weather.


If anything could foul up a great


plan, it’s the unpredictable New Jersey weather in late autumn. November is many times a dreadful month to try to execute anything outdoors, but after one false start just before Thanksgiv- ing, we managed to hit upon a beauti- ful, sunny day on December 1st. Kevin arrived about 9 a.m. at the office and was soon followed by Bill Schaumburg and John Earley. Whippany is located 40 miles east of our office and, traffic being what it is in Jersey, we started off in two cars and arrived at the Mu- seum beside Route 10 an hour later. We were met by Steven and one of


the museum’s staff, Alan Wishengrad. Both were friendly, helpful and, most of all, interested. Kevin and I unloaded


A close-up of the target (left) reveals how they are positioned to face the scanner. They are essential to tie the scans together.


66


The scanner is programmed (right) with a touch screen. This sets the computer so the scanner can gather the site’s data.


MARCH 2012


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