3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages
Measurements and models of global geophysical parameters such as potential fields, seismic velocity models and dynamic topography are well-represented as traditional contoured and/or coloured maps. However, as teaching aids and for public engagement, they offer little impact. Modern 3D printing tech...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.669095/full |
| _version_ | 1831747977666887680 |
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| author | Paula Koelemeijer Jeff Winterbourne |
| author_facet | Paula Koelemeijer Jeff Winterbourne |
| author_sort | Paula Koelemeijer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measurements and models of global geophysical parameters such as potential fields, seismic velocity models and dynamic topography are well-represented as traditional contoured and/or coloured maps. However, as teaching aids and for public engagement, they offer little impact. Modern 3D printing techniques help to visualise these and other concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as the intangible structures in the deep Earth. We have developed a simple method for portraying scalar fields by 3D printing modified globes of surface topography, representing the parameter of interest as additional, exaggerated topography. This is particularly effective for long-wavelength (>500 km) fields. The workflow uses only open source and free-to-use software, and the resulting models print easily and effectively on a cheap (<$300) desktop 3D printer. In this contribution, we detail our workflow and provide examples of different models that we have developed with suggestions for topics that can be discussed in teaching and public engagement settings. Some of our most effective models are simply exaggerated planetary topography in 3D, including Earth, Mars, and the Moon. The resulting globes provide a powerful way to explain the importance of plate tectonics in shaping a planet and linking surface features to deeper dynamic processes. In addition, we have applied our workflow to models of crustal thickness, dynamic topography, the geoid and seismic tomography. By analogy to Russian nesting dolls, our “seismic matryoshkas” have multiple layers that can be removed by the audience to explore the structures present deep within our planet and to learn about ongoing dynamic processes. Handling our globes provokes new questions and draws attention to different features compared with 2D maps. Our globes are complementary to traditional methods of representing geophysical data, aiding learning through touch and intuition and making education and outreach more inclusive for the visually impaired and students with learning disabilities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:43:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14797ed3dbdb4c4b8d81d48103e7a4a0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T21:43:34Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-14797ed3dbdb4c4b8d81d48103e7a4a02022-12-21T18:49:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-05-01910.3389/feart.2021.6690956690953D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach PackagesPaula Koelemeijer0Jeff Winterbourne1Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, United KingdomIndependent Researcher, Egham, United KingdomMeasurements and models of global geophysical parameters such as potential fields, seismic velocity models and dynamic topography are well-represented as traditional contoured and/or coloured maps. However, as teaching aids and for public engagement, they offer little impact. Modern 3D printing techniques help to visualise these and other concepts that are difficult to grasp, such as the intangible structures in the deep Earth. We have developed a simple method for portraying scalar fields by 3D printing modified globes of surface topography, representing the parameter of interest as additional, exaggerated topography. This is particularly effective for long-wavelength (>500 km) fields. The workflow uses only open source and free-to-use software, and the resulting models print easily and effectively on a cheap (<$300) desktop 3D printer. In this contribution, we detail our workflow and provide examples of different models that we have developed with suggestions for topics that can be discussed in teaching and public engagement settings. Some of our most effective models are simply exaggerated planetary topography in 3D, including Earth, Mars, and the Moon. The resulting globes provide a powerful way to explain the importance of plate tectonics in shaping a planet and linking surface features to deeper dynamic processes. In addition, we have applied our workflow to models of crustal thickness, dynamic topography, the geoid and seismic tomography. By analogy to Russian nesting dolls, our “seismic matryoshkas” have multiple layers that can be removed by the audience to explore the structures present deep within our planet and to learn about ongoing dynamic processes. Handling our globes provokes new questions and draws attention to different features compared with 2D maps. Our globes are complementary to traditional methods of representing geophysical data, aiding learning through touch and intuition and making education and outreach more inclusive for the visually impaired and students with learning disabilities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.669095/full3D printingoutreachteachinggeophysicsseismologygeodesy |
| spellingShingle | Paula Koelemeijer Jeff Winterbourne 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages Frontiers in Earth Science 3D printing outreach teaching geophysics seismology geodesy |
| title | 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages |
| title_full | 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages |
| title_fullStr | 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages |
| title_short | 3D Printing the World: Developing Geophysical Teaching Materials and Outreach Packages |
| title_sort | 3d printing the world developing geophysical teaching materials and outreach packages |
| topic | 3D printing outreach teaching geophysics seismology geodesy |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.669095/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT paulakoelemeijer 3dprintingtheworlddevelopinggeophysicalteachingmaterialsandoutreachpackages AT jeffwinterbourne 3dprintingtheworlddevelopinggeophysicalteachingmaterialsandoutreachpackages |