What is IGP about?
Outreach in Geology: Our goals
- To educate the public about key geologic processes that impact society.
- To inform the public about the geologic evolution of key
areas that are geologically significant.
- Fully integrate 3D visualization techniques into geology education.
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We plan to do this by using existing computer technology to develop geologically
accurate animations and interactive displays that illustrate the geological evolution of local areas. These animated movies and displays will be shown in auditoriums or kiosks in both museums and National Parks.
- Our final goal is to make these modules available for use at multiple educational levels.
Why use computer animation to teach geology?
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Geoscientists have demonstrated the efficacy of 3D visualization as a tool
to simplify complex geologic problems. We believe that similar
techniques will prove equally effective as educational tools.
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The concept of geologic time and the vast to global scales over which
geologic changes act are often difficult for the public to understand.
3D visualization in the form of animated movies simplifies these spatial
and temporal problems inherent to geology making it more comprehensible.
- The public seems to be increasingly more interested in computer and
video-based educational displays. A study conducted at a London geology
museum indicates that visitors almost always prefer high-tech computer and
video exhibits (Miles et al., 1993).
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Traditional geologic displays consist of static 3-D dioramas and 2-D diagrams, i.e. maps, photographs, and schematic illustrations.
By transforming these displays into animations, key points of geologic
processes and history can be far better illustrated:
- continuous change in climate;
- continuous change in landscapes;
- continuous change in the processes that affect the landscape (e.g. rivers, volcanoes, lakes, erosion, sand dunes, oceans, bolie impacts);
- continuous change in the tectonic forces affecting the formation of an area, both locally and regionally;
- continuous change in the life forms;
- significant portions of geologic history missing between various rock layers;
- the fact that the current landscape is a fairly recent phenomenon (by geologic standards);
and
- linking geologic time and the evolution of all of the above changing
factors.
Product Dissemination
We plan to distribute all of the products created for national parks and museums freely
over the Internet. Special effort will be made to publicize the availability
of the displays to earth science teachers at all levels. We also hope to
make CD-ROMs available for those that can't download the animations and other
displays over the internet.
To learn more about the types of Digital Products we are creating click here.