SUPPLEMENTING THE FIELD EXPERIENCE IN GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH: A MODULE BASED TEACHING APPROACH USING INTERACTIVE 3D OUTCROP MODELS

The impact of COVID-19 on field access for scientific research and education highlighted the fact that many challenges still remain in making field-based geoscience studies accessible to anyone. Major technological advances have led to an abundance of softwares and packages available for generating virtual lessons. We tested Agisoft Metashape, Web ODM, Blender, Sketchfab, VRGS, Cloud Compare, Python libraries, and QGIS to evaluate their capabilities in supplementing field-based study during our Ph.D. research and while supervising 3 undergraduate research projects that were intended to be primarily field-based prior to COVID-19. We present a workflow for integrating field data with photogrammetric 3D outcrop models for the purpose of virtually visualizing geologic data to supplement undergraduate field experiences and research. Using case study examples from California and Utah, we demonstrate how to gather and format field data, process 3D outcrop data, and integrate them into modules for interactive student evaluation. We will show modules built around field-collected data that focus on the structural, sedimentological, stratigraphic, and chemostratigraphic aspects of the outcrop. We will show how the modules can be used by students to evaluate field observations and measurements in order to develop interpretations. We suggest that our workflow can be adapted for both K-12 and undergraduate teaching purposes to allow students to engage with field-based geoscience subjects, particularly when the field is not accessible.