ADVANCED APPLICATIONS OF MOBILE COMPUTING AND AUGMENTED REALITY FOR FIELD GEOLOGY

Mobile GIS is a transformative technology for field geologists. We are working on three innovations on this theme. First, we are experimenting with geologic applications for devices such as Google’s Android handhelds, which are equipped with communication, positioning, voice recording, camera, and other functions, along with the ability to run programs such as Google Earth. This creates the possibility of using a single device to take photographs, make structural measurements, record field observations, and integrate the data into a GIS, with each function implemented as a separate software tool that can interact with the other tools. To this end, we are experimenting with Blender, a 3-D modeling environment that can be used to create cross-platform, stand-alone “worlds” including DEMs, imagery, and other base map data, as well as a framework for manipulating and adding geologic objects and data. Second we are adapting the concept of “augmented reality” (AR) to field geology. AR for handhelds uses their internal camera, sensors, and display to present geolocated data as a “digital overlay” superimposed on the physical world. AR can thus be a tool for increasing the “situational awareness” of field geologists. Third, is the notion that digital audio data is an underutilized data type that can greatly enrich the collection, presentation, and organization of field geologic data in a GIS. Our geologic applications and AR framework will incorporate the ability to add a voice annotation to any data object, just as it is already standard to add a geographic coordinates to any data object in a GIS. In this way, the already high density of data presented in graphical form on a digital map can be complemented by equally important information presented in audio form. Moreover, audio data is often more convenient and rapid to collect in the field compared to handwriting on a notebook, or typing on a keyboard. Among the many potential uses of the technologies we are working on are interactive field trip guides, new ways of collaborating in the field, and immersive geologic maps. In addition to uses in education and research, all these concepts can serve as proofs-of-concept for advanced field IT for planetary exploration.