ISU and the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences have created a website which will allow you to 3D print a customized map.

Want your own accurate, custom 3D printed map? Of course you do. Iowa State University Virtual Reality Center is offering just that. Also working with them is the Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences.

The reason for this pairing is that the ISU team has gathered data from across the globe. This data can then be 3D printed. It has some interesting uses such as helping people who are new to an area, who want to build a house, an office building – or simply have some fun looking at the terrain they are living in. 

Franek Hasiuk, an Assistant Professor at Iowa State University, explains:

“Being able to print in three dimensions is a big deal because often it’s difficult to understand a two-dimensional map of a new area. Being able to print in 3D will be able to allow people unfamiliar with the area to learn and understand it faster and better.”

However, just for fun, you could also 3D print an ocean floor. Although you’re unlikely to be visiting it anytime soon, ISU already has the data.

Why 3D Print Your Own Map?

Hasiuk continues:

“What this technology does is allows you to make a map, a three-dimensional map that’s customized to the particular place you want. It allows you to make a very interesting three-dimensional map for areas with very subtle topography like Iowa.”

In order to create a whole map, 3D printed small sections need to be matched up. This offers you the chance to play with a puzzle and also have a cool map. What’s more to like?

Chris Harding of the Department of Geology and Atmospheric Sciences especially loves the novelty aspect of this idea. “No tech required, that’s one of the beauties of this. All the tech is done before,” he says, “Once it’s done you can take a Sharpie and draw on it and you can reuse all this, there’s nothing electronic whatsoever involved.”

Tempted by this idea and think you could have a lot of fun creating maps? You’ll be happy to hear that the data is free for anyone to access and download, so fire up your 3D printer. If you just want to look at the data without 3D printing them, here are some great free tools for you to open STL files.

However, keep in mind that this is a local server meaning the more traffic, the slower the website, ISU advises. You can also visit their GitHub page for more information.

Source: WhoTV.com