Cari Johnson and Ian Semple University of Utah Salt Lake City, USA

1. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Inteli-Giga-Pixel-PaloozaCreating and Assessing Effective Uses of Digital Outcrop Models in Geoscience Education Cari Johnson and Ian Semple University of Utah Salt Lake City, USA US-NSF-DUE: Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvements (CCLI) 0736053

2. Johnson and Semple, 2009 The Challenge: Earth Science Visualization • 2D-3D conversions; 4D (deep time) • Dynamic processes in ‘static’ outcrops • Interactive scaling • Complex rotations • Perspective shifting • Extrapolation/visual penetration • Visual recall • Pattern/shape recognition Mental Models Mental Tasks

3. Johnson and Semple, 2009 How to go from this to this and does this help? Possible Solutions: U-DOM project (Utah Digital Outcrop Models) • Series of freely available labs and exercises • Current emphasis on intro and undergraduate level • Basic visuo-spatial thinking skills • Sedimentary geology applications • Using: gigapans and photorealistic terrestrial lidar(intelipixels) with Google Earth platform

4. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project: Gigapans(www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo) • Tripod-mounted robotic attachment for digital cameras ($300-$450*). • You program the field of view, it takes 100s of photos and stitches them (free software). • Result is a smart and seamless photopanorama utility. • Easy to share with others. • Not georeferenced/spatially corrected.

5. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project: Gigapans(www.gigapan.org – search for UU_Geo)

6. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project: terrestrial lidar Intelipixels: New solutions to old problems? • Software and hardware solution – currently retrofitting Riegl, Optech, other scanners. • Photorealistic 3D/spatially correct picture – each digital datapoint contains: XYZ, RGB, and d-GPS information. • Real-world data interaction, no meshing or draping.

7. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project: terrestrial lidar Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation: GSENM, southern Utah

8. Johnson and Semple, 2009

9. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project: terrestrial lidar Intelipixels: New solutions to old problems? • New generation of ground based lidar has solved many of the old problems with meshing and photodraping… • But file size and memory/ graphics requirements are still an issue. • Google Earth is a possible sharing venue via ENVI export.

10. Johnson and Semple, 2009 U-DOM project • The next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. • Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc. Cretaceous Straight Cliffs Formation, southern Utah

11. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Example Modules: Understanding spatial scaling and photo distortion Pretest: what are the approximate dimensions of features A, B, C and how do you know? -Additional information given: sizes of certain nearby features, height of cliffs, etc. (interactive displays) Post-test: do these additional clues help with this and future scaling estimate tasks? ~3 m ~20 cm

12. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Example Modules: Rotation and Perspective Shifting • Can students recognize the same outcrops shown from different perspectives? Or the same geologic features shown on different (but related) outcrops? • Integrate fully interactive 3D lidar dataset – does having access to this ‘training’ set improve these skills?

13. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Example Modules: ‘Forest for the Trees’ – interpretation of sedimentary features from complex outcrop information • Create a series of outcrop ‘maps’ that discern basic observations (i.e., what is original to the depositional system versus what is post-depositional) • Incrementally add more information: measured sections, detailed photos of sed structures, etc.

14. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Summary, U-DOM project Stage 1: Initial Lessons Learned • GigaPans = photopansextraordinairre! Easy to make and share, but not explicitly georeferenced • Terrestrial lidar is getting easier • Sharing, file size, and format are still challenges

15. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Summary, U-DOM project, Stage 2 • The next step: Testing DOMs as an educational resource. • Create a series of training exercises based on DOMs, measured sections, field GR, cross sections, etc. • Working with cognitive psychologist and computer science visualization experts • Rigorous testing of learning outcomes • Preserve interactivity; Use multimedia formats • Ease-of-use and global sharing on common platform • Coming in 2010: www.earth.utah.edu/basins

16. Johnson and Semple, 2009 Conclusions Earth Science Visualization: Seeing is believing? Our science requires complex spatial perception and visualization tasks; Individuals show enormous range in their abilities to accomplish these tasks. More research is needed to really define what works to create accurate and effective mental models. If guidelines for effective visualizations and pedagogy are followed carefully, it seems promising that we can add DOMs to the arsenal of geoscience education tools. www.earth.utah.edu/basins