ZOOMING IN ON GEOLOGY WITH GIGAPANS

This is a contribution to the Pardee Symposium entitled “Digital Geology Speed Dating.” At Table 2 we will showcase recent developments in robotics technology, image processing, and web-delivery that have made the creation, viewing, and annotation of high-resolution imagery far more accessible to scientists and the general public than was previously possible. GigaPans are gigapixel panoramic images that capture highly detailed photographic information in a way that preserves a high degree of detail through a wide range of magnifications. The GigaPan robotic camera mount can be used with a range of digital cameras to create high resolution panoramas ranging in scale from hand sample to landscape; the imaging software can also be utilized to generate gigapixel panoramas from other sources, such as thin section or satellite images. These panoramas can be explored through a web-based interface that allows the viewer to interact with the image from the widest view down to the smallest zoom levels and to annotate images using "snapshots" that record a specific location and magnification level. In addition, GigaPans can be georeferenced and explored in a spatial context via applications such as Google Earth, and can be linked to other relevant pans via URL references in captions and snapshot comments.

This interactive GigaPan session will demonstrate the creation of GigaPans at multiple scales (thin section, hand-sample, outcrop, and landscape). Specific applications of these images for earth science educators will be discussed, including examples of classroom activities and independent exercises that encourage students to take an active inquiry-based approach to understanding geoscience concepts at multiple skill levels. The utility of GigaPans in field research will also be explored, as these panoramas serve as both records of field locations and as additional datasets for detailed analysis. Hands-on exploration and sharing will be the foundation for the session.