In the heart of Santa Fe, at the meeting point of St. Francis Drive, Cerrillos Road, and the Railrunner tracks, a quiet but remarkable study is taking place.
It is a story of nature and technology, of survival and adaptation—one that begins with the humble Gunnison prairie dog.
With the help of the Artec Leo 3D scanner, provided by ARTS Lab, UNM researches are capturing the intricate topography of a prairie dog colony, digitally mapping the winding burrows that lie just beneath the city’s surface. Catherine Harris, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture, leads this effort with a simple yet profound goal: to better understand how these small creatures shape, and are shaped by, the urban environment.
Beneath the pavement, beneath the hum of passing trains and cars, exists a world few have seen. This scaled 3D model will reveal the hidden architecture of prairie dog homes, offering insights into their resilience and the delicate balance between wildlife and human expansion. It is a testament to the ingenuity of nature—and the curiosity of those who seek to understand it.
And so, the work continues. Bit by bit, scan by scan, a clearer picture emerges of the unseen world below.
Stay tuned—there is always more to discover.
Join organizers Madrone Matishak and Sarah Bennett Davidson for an overview of the New Mexico Dance Hackathon, an initiative bringing together dance and new media artists to experiment and create innovative work across performance, installation, and film. This info session offers a look at past projects, insights into the creative process, and details on how to apply for this year’s program, culminating in final presentations at UNM ARTSLab this July.
ARTSLab is excited to continue its partnership with Unity in Spring 2026 with two free webinars and two free 10-hour courses, open to anyone in the state of New Mexico.
ARTSLab was recently featured in two articles highlighting its work at the intersection of art, technology, and innovation, including student-led projects and a NASA-funded VR initiative.