Case Study: University of Manchester achieves accurate 3D reconstructions and lifelike gait simulations of prehistoric and modern animals with 3D Systems' Geomagic Studio

Waking the dead Geomagic 3D imaging software enables prehistoric animals to walk again

The University of Manchester’s Animal Simulation Laboratory, led by Dr. Bill Sellers, tackles the challenge of turning 3D scans of fossil and modern skeletons into anatomically accurate digital models for gait simulation and evolutionary study. Creating watertight, editable meshes from multiple scan types and separating individual bones while preserving detail is time-consuming but essential to simulate realistic movement and enable experiments that can’t be done on live animals.

Their workflow combines laser/CT/LiDAR scanning with Geomagic Studio to register, merge and automatically wrap scan data into watertight polygon models (using tools like crease-angle selection and Mesh Doctor), followed by decimation and repose in Autodesk 3ds Max and import into Manchester’s GaitSym for musculoskeletal modeling and AI-driven gait optimization. The result is highly realistic, reusable models used by researchers, vets, museums and sports scientists—enabling insights such as the role of the Achilles tendon, a revised Brachiosaurus mass estimate (~23 tonnes), and teaching specimens—while saving manual work and avoiding live-animal experiments.

University of Manchester

Bill Sellers

Program Director in Zoology