3D Printing Heritage Trees

We have developed a method for 3D printing of heritage trees from laser scanned point clouds. Heritage trees are ancient trees of significant historical, cultural, and ecological importance. Louisiana has many large, old, and culturally significant specimens of southern live oak, i.e. Quercus virginiana, and bald cypress, i.e. Taxodium distichum. These trees are charismatic megaflora – specimens that capture the imagination of the public and encourage broader support for biodiversity conservation. To preserve a record of the most significant heritage trees in Louisiana, we have developed a process of terrestrial laser scanning, volumetric modeling, and powder-based 3D printing.