ANALYZING HOW GEOLOGISTS INTERPRET STRATIGRAPHY USING EYE TRACKING SOFTWARE

There are numerous examples where geologists have disagreed about stratigraphic interpretations including significant differences about what these features mean. Currently, there has yet to be an analysis about why some geologists interpret stratigraphy of an area differently. In this study, we will analyze how human cognition examines stratigraphic images of sedimentary deposits and develops their interpretations. We asked individuals with different levels of geoscience training, including those with no training along with those with doctoral degrees, to examine and interpret stratigraphic images collected from the Bonnet Carre Spillway in New Orleans, Louisiana. We used an open source program called Ogama, which is an eye and mouse tracking software that tracks the eye movement of participants while viewing geological images. The direction of the subject’s gaze and their mouse movements provide insight into how individuals examine stratigraphic images and the features that are consistently focused upon. To begin, we will first analyze how subjects examine geological photographs on unmarked slides. Next, we will show the participants geographical slides that have already been marked with interpretations to examine how similar their conclusions are. With the collected data, we hope to understand what may cause the differing interpretations by geologists. Furthermore, this study could be used to help promote a computer program that could consistently identify stratigraphic formations.