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Utilizing
Affordable Stereographic Projection Technology in Geology Undergraduate
Education
PI’s: Paul Morin (University of Minnesota/Michigan), Jason
Leigh (Electronic Visualization Laboratory, Univ. Illinois),
Peter van Keken (University of Michigan), Kent Kirkby (University
of Minnesota), Steve Reynolds (Arizona State University)
 A
good understanding of spatial relationships is a fundamental
requirement in the study of the Earth Sciences. Traditional
teaching methods have strongly relied on the 2D representations
through maps and profiles that are occasionally augmented
by physical models. Although most Earth Scientists have been
trained to understand the 3D structure from such representations,
the extrapolation requires spatial thinking skills that are
difficult to learn and often form a stumbling block for students
at the introductory level.
The vast recent improvements in low-cost
and easy-to-use desktop visualization technology provides
a unique opportunity to utilize stereo viewing technology
at the introductory levels to aid students in the interpretation
of 3D information and to provide an easy stepping stone towards
developing the essential spatial thinking skills. Notwithstanding
the technological advances, the successful introduction of
widely distributable stereo viewing depends on the development
of course content that is of sufficient quantity and quality.
As a collaborative and interdisciplinary
group of researchers and educators we propose to develop laboratory
modules that can be used at the general introductory Earth
Science education level. We will take a consortium approach,
where Earth Science faculty at multiple institutions develop
and adapt course content optimized for stereo viewing that
can form material to support existing textbooks and lab manuals.
Examples include the display of geological field data in true
geometry, the querying of relationships between multiple data
sets, and the visualization of dynamic processes.
The proposing team forms the core of the
effort and provides the logistical support, visualization
expertise and application programming. The laboratory curriculum
will be developed by iterative improvement and testing, and
will be evaluated at the participating institutions before
national dissemination through The Digital Library for Earth
System Education (DLESE), CD-ROM distribution and commercial
publishers. The software support and module layout will be
sufficiently flexible that the modules can be adapted for
use at more specialized levels, in K-12 education and in other
disciplines that require 3D skills.
A pilot project initiated by Morin, Leigh
and van Keken provided the proof that the concept of affordable
stereo viewing can be used at the introductory geology level
and spearheaded the broader effort by soliciting the participation
of multiple institutions, data providers, a commercial publisher,
and several software companies. The Geowall stereo viewer
is based on using off-the-shelf projectors with polarizing
filters run by a Linux PC at a cost of just $15,000. The design
provides bright passive stereo views that can be used in collaborative
work and small class settings using cheap paper or plastic
glasses.
 .
Contact: Paul
Morin
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