Inteli-Giga-Pixel-Palooza Creating and Assessing Effective Uses of Digital Outcrop Models in Geoscience Education Cari Johnson and Ian Semple University

Inteli-Giga-Pixel-PaloozaCreating and Assessing Effective Uses of Digital Outcrop Models in

Geoscience Education

Cari Johnson and Ian SempleUniversity of Utah

Salt Lake City, USA

US-NSF-DUE: Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvements (CCLI) 0736053

Johnson and Semple, 2009

The Challenge: Earth Science The Challenge: Earth Science VisualizationVisualization

- Mental ModelsMental Models- Mental TasksMental Tasks

•2D-3D conversions; 4D (deep time)2D-3D conversions; 4D (deep time)•Dynamic processes in ‘static’ outcropsDynamic processes in ‘static’ outcrops•Interactive scalingInteractive scaling•Complex rotationsComplex rotations•Perspective shiftingPerspective shifting•Extrapolation/visual penetrationExtrapolation/visual penetration•Visual recallVisual recall•Pattern/shape recognitionPattern/shape recognition


Possible Solutions: U-DOM project Possible Solutions: U-DOM project (Utah Digital Outcrop Models)(Utah Digital Outcrop Models)

How to go How to go from this to this from this to this and does this help? and does this help?

Series of freely available labs and exercisesSeries of freely available labs and exercisesCurrent emphasis on intro and undergraduate levelCurrent emphasis on intro and undergraduate level

Basic visuo-spatial thinking skillsBasic visuo-spatial thinking skillsSedimentary geology applicationsSedimentary geology applications

Using: Using: gigapansgigapans and photorealistic terrestrial lidar and photorealistic terrestrial lidar (intelipixels) (intelipixels) with with Google Earth Google Earth platformplatform


U-DOM project: Gigapans U-DOM project: Gigapans (www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo)(www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo)

•You program the field of view, it You program the field of view, it takes 100s of photos and stitches takes 100s of photos and stitches them (free software).them (free software).•Result is a smart and seamless Result is a smart and seamless photopanorama utility. photopanorama utility. •Easy to share with others.Easy to share with others.•Not georeferenced/spatially Not georeferenced/spatially corrected.corrected.

•Tripod-mounted robotic attachment for digital cameras Tripod-mounted robotic attachment for digital cameras ($300-$450*).($300-$450*).


U-DOM project: Gigapans U-DOM project: Gigapans (www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo)(www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo)


U-DOM project: U-DOM project: terrestrial lidarterrestrial lidarIntelipixels: New solutions to old problems? Intelipixels: New solutions to old problems?

•Software and hardware solution – currently Software and hardware solution – currently retrofitting Riegl, Optech, other scanners.retrofitting Riegl, Optech, other scanners.•Photorealistic 3D/spatially correct picture – Photorealistic 3D/spatially correct picture – each digital datapoint contains: XYZ, RGB, each digital datapoint contains: XYZ, RGB, and d-GPS information.and d-GPS information.•Real-world data interaction, no meshing or Real-world data interaction, no meshing or draping.draping.


U-DOM project: U-DOM project: terrestrial lidarterrestrial lidar

Cretaceous Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Straight Cliffs Formation: Formation: GSENM, GSENM, southern Utahsouthern Utah



U-DOM project: U-DOM project: terrestrial lidarterrestrial lidarIntelipixels: New solutions to old problems? Intelipixels: New solutions to old problems?

•New generation of ground New generation of ground based lidar has solved many of based lidar has solved many of the old problems with meshing the old problems with meshing and photodraping…and photodraping…•But file size and memory/ But file size and memory/ graphics requirements are still graphics requirements are still an issue.an issue.•Google Earth is a possible Google Earth is a possible sharing venue via ENVI export.sharing venue via ENVI export.


U-DOM projectU-DOM projectThe next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. The next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. •Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc. measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc.

Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, southern UtahCretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, southern Utah


Example Modules: Understanding spatial Example Modules: Understanding spatial scaling and photo distortionscaling and photo distortion

Pretest: what are the approximate Pretest: what are the approximate dimensions of features A, B, C dimensions of features A, B, C and how do you know?and how do you know?-Additional information given: -Additional information given: sizes of certain nearby features, sizes of certain nearby features, height of cliffs, etc. (interactive height of cliffs, etc. (interactive displays)displays)Post-test: do these additional Post-test: do these additional clues help with this and future clues help with this and future scaling estimate tasks?scaling estimate tasks?

~20 cm~3 m


Example Modules: Rotation and Example Modules: Rotation and Perspective ShiftingPerspective Shifting

•Can students recognize the same Can students recognize the same outcrops shown from different outcrops shown from different perspectives? Or the same geologic perspectives? Or the same geologic features shown on different (but features shown on different (but related) outcrops?related) outcrops?•Integrate fully interactive 3D lidar Integrate fully interactive 3D lidar dataset – does having access to this dataset – does having access to this ‘training’ set improve these skills?‘training’ set improve these skills?


Example Modules: ‘Forest for the Trees’ – Example Modules: ‘Forest for the Trees’ – interpretation of sedimentary features from interpretation of sedimentary features from

complex outcrop informationcomplex outcrop information•Create a series of outcrop ‘maps’ Create a series of outcrop ‘maps’ that discern basic observations (i.e., that discern basic observations (i.e., what is original to the depositional what is original to the depositional system versus what is post-system versus what is post-depositional)depositional)•Incrementally add more information: Incrementally add more information: measured sections, detailed photos measured sections, detailed photos of sed structures, etc.of sed structures, etc.


Summary, U-DOM project Stage 1: Summary, U-DOM project Stage 1: Initial Lessons LearnedInitial Lessons Learned

GigaPans = photopans extraordinairre! GigaPans = photopans extraordinairre! Easy to make and share, but not Easy to make and share, but not explicitly georeferencedexplicitly georeferencedTerrestrial lidar is getting easierTerrestrial lidar is getting easierSharing, file size, and format are still Sharing, file size, and format are still challengeschallenges


Summary, U-DOM project, Stage 2Summary, U-DOM project, Stage 2The next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. The next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. • Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc. measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc.

-Working with cognitive psychologist and computer science Working with cognitive psychologist and computer science visualization expertsvisualization experts-Rigorous testing of learning outcomesRigorous testing of learning outcomes-Preserve interactivity; Use multimedia formatsPreserve interactivity; Use multimedia formats-Ease-of-use and global sharing on common platformEase-of-use and global sharing on common platform

Coming in 2010: www.earth.utah.edu/basinsComing in 2010: www.earth.utah.edu/basins


ConclusionsConclusionsEarth Science Visualization: Seeing is believing?Earth Science Visualization: Seeing is believing?

•Our science requires complex spatial perception and Our science requires complex spatial perception and visualization tasks; Individuals show enormous range visualization tasks; Individuals show enormous range in their abilities to accomplish these tasks. in their abilities to accomplish these tasks.

•More research is needed to really define what works More research is needed to really define what works to create accurate and effective mental models.to create accurate and effective mental models.

•If guidelines for effective visualizations and If guidelines for effective visualizations and pedagogy are followed carefully, it seems promising pedagogy are followed carefully, it seems promising that we can add DOMs to the arsenal of geoscience that we can add DOMs to the arsenal of geoscience education tools.education tools.

www.earth.utah.edu/basins


Documents

Inteli-Giga-Pixel-Palooza Creating and Assessing Effective Uses of Digital Outcrop Models in Geoscience Education Cari Johnson and Ian Semple University