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Lallensack, JN, Romilio, A and Falkingham, PL (2022) A machine learning approach for the discrimination of theropod and ornithischian dinosaur tracks. Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 19. ISSN 1742-5662
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A machine learning approach for the discrimination of theropod and ornithischian dinosaur tracks.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (685kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Fossil tracks are important palaeobiological data sources. The quantitative analysis of their shape, however, has been hampered by their high variability and lack of discrete margins and landmarks. We here present the first approach using deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) to study fossil tracks, overcoming the limitations of previous statistical approaches. We employ a DCNN to discriminate between theropod and ornithischian dinosaur tracks based on a total of 1372 outline silhouettes. The DCNN consistently outperformed human experts on an independent test set. We also used the DCNN to classify tracks of a large tridactyl trackmaker from Lark Quarry, Australia, the identity of which has been subject to intense debate. The presented approach can only be considered a first step towards the wider application of machine learning in fossil track research, which is not limited to classification problems. Current limitations, such as the subjectivity and information loss inherent in interpretive outlines, may be overcome in the future by training neural networks on three-dimensional models directly, though this will require an increased uptake in digitization among workers in the field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | General Science & Technology |
| Subjects: | C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA76 Computer software Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Divisions: | Biological & Environmental Sciences (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | The Royal Society |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Nov 2022 11:03 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Nov 2022 11:03 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1098/rsif.2022.0588 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/18087 |
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