Immersive Virtual Reality for Earth Sciences

Gerloni, Ilario Gabriele; Carchiolo, Vincenza; Vitello, F.; Sciacca, Eva; Costa, Alessandro; Riggi, S.; Bonali, Fabio Luca; Russo, Elena; Fallati, Luca; Marchese, Fabio; Tibaldi, Alessandro

doi:10.15439/2018f139

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The UAS has been manually driven to collect pictures with oblique orientation of the camera and to detail vertical cliffs. Photo overlap has also to be defined, as suggested by Gerloni et al (2018, Krokos et al (2019) and Antoniou et al (2019). In fact, it is recommended that UAS-captured photos should have an overlap of 90% along the path and 80% in lateral direction, in order to obtain a greater alignment of images and to reduce the distortions on the resulting texture.…”

Section: D Modelling and Data Input (Part I)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Real world–based immersive Virtual Reality for research, teaching and communication in volcanology

et al. 2020

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Direct outcrop observation and field data collection are key techniques in research, teaching and outreach activities in volcanic areas. However, very often outcrops are of difficult or inaccessible access, such as in areas with active volcanoes or steep cliffs. Classical remote-sensing surveys by satellites or airplanes are expensive, rarely reach sufficient resolution to allow high quality 3D visualisation of volcanic features, and do not facilitate mapping of vertical cliffs. We describe a novel approach that uses the immersive Virtual Reality (VR) based on real world 3D Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs) from images surveyed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). 3D DOMs are built up using the Structure from Motion (SfM) photogrammetry technique, and a Virtual Reality scene is created using game engine technologies. Immersive real-time exploration of the environment is possible through a head mounted display, e.g. Oculus Rift. Tools embedded in the VR environment allow the user to map polygons, lines, point features, measure orientation, dip, inclination, azimuth, area, thickness and even take virtual photographs. Using three examples of volcanic areas with different geological features, we demonstrate the potential of our approach to allow users to be able to virtually map and measure remotely, and to collect data for research and teaching. Our approach is of paramount importance also for outreach, as it allows non-specialist audiences (e.g. common citizens) to experience and appreciate highly complex volcanic features through customised, hands-on immersive VR tools. Response to Reviewers: I have corrected the paper and figures as suggested by the Editor Taddeucci. Author Comments: As suggested by the Editor Taddeucci, I added three videos related to the paper as Supplementary material, and a pdf containing the video captions (a very brief description).

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Section: D Modelling and Data Input (Part I)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Real world–based immersive Virtual Reality for research, teaching and communication in volcanology

et al. 2020

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“…ratio of 85% and 80 %, along the flight path and in lateral direction, respectively (Gerloni et al, 2018;Antoniou et. al., 2019;Bonali et al, 2019Bonali et al, , 2020Fallati et al, 2020).…”

Section: Drone Survey Photo and Gcps Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping and evaluating kinematics and stress/strain field at active faults and fissures: a comparison between field and drone data at NE Rift, Mt Etna (Italy)

Tibaldi¹,

Corti²,

Beni³

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Abstract. We collected drone data to quantify the kinematics at extensional fractures and normal faults, integrated this information with seismological data to reconstruct the stress field, and critically compared the results with previous fieldwork to assess the best practice. As key site, we analysed a sector of the North-East Rift of Mt Etna, an area affected by continuous ground deformation linked to gravity sliding of the volcano's eastern flank and dyke injection. The studied sector is characterized also by the existence of eruptive craters and fissures and lava flows. This work shows that this rift segment is affected by a series of NE-striking, parallel extensional fractures characterized by an opening mode along an average N105.7° vector. Normal faults strike parallel to the extensional fractures, although they tend to bend slightly when crossing topographic highs corresponding to pyroclastic cones. The extensional strain obtained by cumulating the net offset at extensional fractures with the fault heave gives a stretching ratio of 1.003 in the northeastern part of the study area and 1.005 in the southwestern part. Given a maximum age of 1614 yr AD for the offset lavas, we obtained an extension rate of 1.9 cm/yr for the last 406 yr. The stress field is characterised by a σHmin trending NW-SE. Results indicate that Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry applied to drone surveys allows to collect large amounts of data with a resolution of 2–3 cm, a detail comparable to field surveys. In the same amount of time, drone survey can allow to collect more data than classical fieldwork, especially in logistically difficult rough terrains.

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“…The UAV was manually controlled by the pilot for the entire duration of the mission; as shown in Figure 6b, a number of paths, parallel to each other, were planned. As suggested in recent works [39,[95][96][97], UAV-captured photos should have an overlap of 90% along single paths and 80% in a lateral direction (e.g., Figure 6b), so as to obtain a better alignment of the images and reduce distortions on the resulting orthomosaics. During image collection for the goals of the present work, field photographs were taken from a height of 30 m by flying the drone at a speed of 2 m/s and obtaining an overlap consistently in a range of 90%-85% along paths and 80%-75% in a lateral direction; images were captured every 2 s (equal time interval mode) and in optimal light conditions suitable for the camera ISO range (100-1600).…”

Section: Uav-based Structure-from-motion: Data Collection (Part I)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With the purpose of enhancing the popularization and fruition of these three geosites in the ThFS, we uploaded three "Virtual Outcrops" [92][93][94] on the web. 3-D DOMs can also be navigated through Virtual Reality techniques, as described in recent contributions [95,97,120,121]. The geosite in Figure 9a is accessible in Virtual Outcrop format at [122].…”

Section: Geosite Visualization Fruition and Communicationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Iceland, an Open-Air Museum for Geoheritage and Earth Science Communication Purposes

2020

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Iceland is one of the most recognizable and iconic places on Earth, offering an unparalleled chance to admire the most powerful natural phenomena related to the combination of geodynamic, tectonic and magmatic forces, such as active rifting, volcanic eruptions and subvolcanic intrusions. We have identified and selected 25 geosites from the Snæfellsnes Peninsula and the Northern Volcanic Zone, areas where most of the above phenomena can be admired as they unfold before the viewers’ eyes. We have qualitatively assessed the selected volcano–tectonic geosites by applying a set of criteria derived from previous studies and illustrated them through field photographs, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-captured images and 3-D models. Finally, we have discussed and compared the different options and advantages provided by such visualization techniques and proposed a novel, cutting-edge approach to geoheritage promotion and popularization, based on interactive, navigable Virtual Outcrops made available online.

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Immersive Virtual Reality for Earth Sciences

Cited by 18 publications

References 12 publications

Real world–based immersive Virtual Reality for research, teaching and communication in volcanology

Real world–based immersive Virtual Reality for research, teaching and communication in volcanology

Mapping and evaluating kinematics and stress/strain field at active faults and fissures: a comparison between field and drone data at NE Rift, Mt Etna (Italy)

Iceland, an Open-Air Museum for Geoheritage and Earth Science Communication Purposes

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