Abstract
Mosasaurids is a group of aquatic lizards living in the Late Cretaceous
sea. They are found worldwide. Taniwhasaurus mikasaensis Caldwell et al.
2008 is a species of Mosasauridae and was found from the Kashima
Formation, the Santonian-Campanian boundary interval, the Upper
Cretaceous. This type specimen was chosen for the Japan’s National
monument on July 16th, 1976 for the first discovery of a terrestrial
carnivorous dinosaurs (at the time of discovery of the specimen, it was
identified to Tyrannosauroidea). Including the holotype of T.
mikasaensis, only four fossils are resistered as Japan’s National
Monument. In addition, the other fossils of National Monuments are
registered with its localities. Namely, the holotype of T. mikasaensis
is an only fossil alone registered National Monument. Therefore, there
are no opportunity to touch by non-experts and to see in another museum
for special exhibition or fossil replica because the change of existing
condition is strongly restricted by the law. In addition, the Holotype
of T. mikasaensis is housed in a local museum of Japan and then it is
difficult to touch or research that for “foreigners”. To change this
situation, firstly, we made 3D data of T. mikasaensis for the original
specimen available for various uses such as research and educational
outreach. We made some types of outreach tools of T. mikasaensis. First,
we made some sizes of replicas by using 3D printer (AFINIA). These
replicas were changed “untouchable” situation of the national
monument. Second, we made web-based AR application using this 3D model
and surface texture data. Web-based system does not need special
equipment or APP for display AR model. We used A-frame and AR.js for
making AR system. AR.js are generally used marker for showing 3D model
in smartphones. Then, we verified the educational effect of these 3D
data of T. mikasaensis. In July 13th, 2019, we carried out a hands-on
education program for T. mikasaensis. Experiment peoples were general
visitors from teens to 50s. First, they viewed an exhibition room where
the holotype of T. mikasaensis was putted in, and then they moved to the
hands-on booth. In this booth, the followers were exhibited; a photo of
T. mikasaensis, two 3D printed replicas, a whole-body skeleton and a
reconstruction illustration of T. mikasaensis, and some sets of a QR
code and a maker for the web-based AR application. Visitors experienced
AR with their own smartphones or the arranged tablet PC. A curator
explained the outline and importance of T. mikasaensis and then,
visitors touched models and AR freely. The holotype of T. mikasaensis
was one of the rare mosasaurid skulls in Japan. This specimen was
difficult to move because of legislatively and physically. In contrast,
3D printed models or AR enable to observe accurately everywhere.
Therefore, in the future, it was expected to provide more research
chance to worldwide researchers with our digital contains.