Bringing the field to students with ‘Virtual Field Geology’

Credit: University of Washington

The former Bear Valley Strip Mine in Pennsylvania is the site of the “Whaleback anticline,” named because the 30-foot-tall hump of bedrock looks like a whale. Decades of coal mining exposed folds in the bedrock, that offer clues to the landscape’s history. The Virtual Field Geology project uses drone photography to create virtual field visits on a web browser or VR headset.

« Bringing the field to students with ‘Virtual Field Geology’

Credit: University of Washington

The fictional ‘Fold Islands’ experience is a cartoon-based field geology site that lets students practice their skills using a geodetic compass and other tools of field geology.

« Bringing the field to students with ‘Virtual Field Geology’

Credit: University of Washington

Max Needle (far right) and Jacky Mooc (center in blue sweater) at the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting, in Denver in October. Two meeting attendees explore the Whaleback anticline geologic site by donning an Oculus Quest 2 headset.

« Bringing the field to students with ‘Virtual Field Geology’

Credit: University of Washington

Max Needle presents the Virtual Field Geology project at the Geological Society of America’s annual meeting in Denver in October.

« Bringing the field to students with ‘Virtual Field Geology’

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