GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality
We introduce GeaVR, an open-source package containing tools for geological-structural exploration and mapping in Immersive Virtual Reality (VR). GeaVR also makes it possible to carry out quantitative data collection on 3D realistic, referenced and scaled Virtual Reality scenarios. Making use of Imme...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Applied Computing and Geosciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019742400003X |
| _version_ | 1797267576662786048 |
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| author | Fabio Luca Bonali Fabio Vitello Martin Kearl Alessandro Tibaldi Malcolm Whitworth Varvara Antoniou Elena Russo Emmanuel Delage Paraskevi Nomikou Ugo Becciani Benjamin van Wyk de Vries Mel Krokos |
| author_facet | Fabio Luca Bonali Fabio Vitello Martin Kearl Alessandro Tibaldi Malcolm Whitworth Varvara Antoniou Elena Russo Emmanuel Delage Paraskevi Nomikou Ugo Becciani Benjamin van Wyk de Vries Mel Krokos |
| author_sort | Fabio Luca Bonali |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We introduce GeaVR, an open-source package containing tools for geological-structural exploration and mapping in Immersive Virtual Reality (VR). GeaVR also makes it possible to carry out quantitative data collection on 3D realistic, referenced and scaled Virtual Reality scenarios. Making use of Immersive Virtual Reality technology through the Unity game engine, GeaVR works with commercially available VR equipment. This allows VR to be accessible to a broad audience, resulting in a revolutionary tool package for Earth Sciences. Users can explore various 3D datasets, spanning from freely available Digital Surface Models and Bathymetric data to ad-hoc 3D high-resolution models from photogrammetry processing. The user can navigate the 3D model in first person, walking or flying above the surrounding environment, mapping the main geological features such as points, lines and polygons, and collecting quantitative data using the provided field survey tools. Such data, including geographic coordinates, can be exported for further spatial analyses. Here we describe three different case studies aimed at showing the potential of our tools. GeaVR is revolutionary as it can be used worldwide, with no spatial limitations, both for geo-education and Earth Science popularization, as well as for research purposes. Secondly, it makes it possible to safely access dangerous areas, such as vertical cliffs or volcanic terrains, virtually from a computer screen or Virtual Reality headset. Furthermore, it can help to reduce carbon emissions by avoiding the use of flights and vehicles to conduct field trips. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T13:00:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-134e0855ead2466b8f1a116f37fede10 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2590-1974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T01:18:47Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Computing and Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-134e0855ead2466b8f1a116f37fede102024-03-09T09:29:26ZengElsevierApplied Computing and Geosciences2590-19742024-03-0121100156GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual realityFabio Luca Bonali0Fabio Vitello1Martin Kearl2Alessandro Tibaldi3Malcolm Whitworth4Varvara Antoniou5Elena Russo6Emmanuel Delage7Paraskevi Nomikou8Ugo Becciani9Benjamin van Wyk de Vries10Mel Krokos11Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy; CRUST-Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications, 66100, Chieti Scalo, Italy; Corresponding author. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy.National Institute of Astrophysics, Bologna, ItalySchool of Creative Technologies, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UKDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy; CRUST-Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications, 66100, Chieti Scalo, ItalySchool of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UKFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceDepartment of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milan-Bicocca, 20126, Milan, Italy; CRUST-Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications, 66100, Chieti Scalo, ItalyObservatoire du Physique du Globe de Clermont, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, FranceFaculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, GreeceNational Institute of Astrophysics, Catania, ItalyObservatoire du Physique du Globe de Clermont, Université Clermont Auvergne, Clermont-Ferrand, FranceSchool of Creative Technologies, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UKWe introduce GeaVR, an open-source package containing tools for geological-structural exploration and mapping in Immersive Virtual Reality (VR). GeaVR also makes it possible to carry out quantitative data collection on 3D realistic, referenced and scaled Virtual Reality scenarios. Making use of Immersive Virtual Reality technology through the Unity game engine, GeaVR works with commercially available VR equipment. This allows VR to be accessible to a broad audience, resulting in a revolutionary tool package for Earth Sciences. Users can explore various 3D datasets, spanning from freely available Digital Surface Models and Bathymetric data to ad-hoc 3D high-resolution models from photogrammetry processing. The user can navigate the 3D model in first person, walking or flying above the surrounding environment, mapping the main geological features such as points, lines and polygons, and collecting quantitative data using the provided field survey tools. Such data, including geographic coordinates, can be exported for further spatial analyses. Here we describe three different case studies aimed at showing the potential of our tools. GeaVR is revolutionary as it can be used worldwide, with no spatial limitations, both for geo-education and Earth Science popularization, as well as for research purposes. Secondly, it makes it possible to safely access dangerous areas, such as vertical cliffs or volcanic terrains, virtually from a computer screen or Virtual Reality headset. Furthermore, it can help to reduce carbon emissions by avoiding the use of flights and vehicles to conduct field trips.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019742400003X |
| spellingShingle | Fabio Luca Bonali Fabio Vitello Martin Kearl Alessandro Tibaldi Malcolm Whitworth Varvara Antoniou Elena Russo Emmanuel Delage Paraskevi Nomikou Ugo Becciani Benjamin van Wyk de Vries Mel Krokos GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality Applied Computing and Geosciences |
| title | GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| title_full | GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| title_fullStr | GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| title_full_unstemmed | GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| title_short | GeaVR: An open-source tools package for geological-structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| title_sort | geavr an open source tools package for geological structural exploration and data collection using immersive virtual reality |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259019742400003X |
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