Desert Botanical Garden Uses 3D Scans to Protect Sonoran Desert Wildlife
The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix, Arizona, has launched an innovative art and data project called 'Framerate: Desert Pulse' in collaboration with ScanLAB Projects, a London-based artist group. This project utilizes lidar technology, commonly used in self-driving cars, to create detailed 3D scans of the Sonoran Desert's unique landscape. Over the course of a year, millions of laser pulses were fired into the desert, capturing the growth and changes in cacti and other desert flora. The scans document the life cycle of these plants, including a significant event where a giant saguaro cactus fell, providing a poignant moment for the researchers involved. The project aims to highlight the rich biodiversity of the desert and the impact of human activities, such as housing developments and agriculture, on this fragile ecosystem. 
