A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLOSE-RANGE PHOTOGRAMMETRY, LASER SCANNING, AND THEIR INTEGRATION IN CREATING HIGH RESOLUTION 3D VIRTUAL MODELS OF GEOLOGIC OUTCROPS

UT Dallas in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Valencia, Spain Department of Cartographic Engineering and Geodesy Photogrammetry has been comparing approaches to virtual teaching of Earth Science topics for K-20 studies of various geological sites in the Dallas, TX area. Approaches included the use of commercial 2D/3D software, freeware, close range photogrammetry, laser scanning, and 3D cyber mapping. The 3D photorealistic models created are being utilized in various educational settings. The comparison will aid in the evaluation of effectiveness of retention by students and cost by the school. In areas of education where field trips are difficult, the alternative approach of using virtual field trips is promising. Preliminary results show promise in the combined use of photogrammetry and laser scanning with 3D cyber mapping. Models created with laser scanning will be showcased, evaluated, and compared to those created with photogrammetry. The combination of these approaches allows the best of these approaches to be utilized for maximum geologic detail. This study is a comparison of the pros and cons of different technologies in capturing detail with equipment ranging from a few hundred dollars to a hundred thousand dollars or more. The models include the structure of the Arbuckle Anticline (Oklahoma), and several sedimentalogical geological and paleontological sites in Texas.