UTILIZATION OF DRONES AND PHOTOGRAMMETRY TO ENHANCE GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION: IMPLEMENTATION OF VIRTUAL GEOLOGIC FIELD TRIPS IN GEOSCIENCE CURRICULUM

While traditional geologic field trips provide invaluable learning opportunities for geoscience students, challenges such as student absences and accessibility issues can arise. Virtual geologic field trips are gaining popularity in geoscience departments, and the use of drone imagery combined with Structure from Motion (SfM) 3D modeling offers a more interactive and engaging virtual experience. At Sonoma State University, our introductory field course (GEOL 102) includes a one-day trip to examine basic geological concepts along the coast of Sonoma County, California. During this field trip, students visit five key sites that showcase local geological features. At each site, students study a range of topics including structural geology, paleontology, and the processes that form igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Since these topics can be difficult to present virtually, we employ Unoccupied Aerial Systems (UAS) and SfM 3D models to create a more immersive online experience. We built this virtual field trip during the 2023-2024 academic year and have now implemented the trip during our 2024-2025 academic year (Virtual Field Trip: https://geologyfromabove.cs.sonoma.edu). Through this process we have modified the field trip to be more accessible, more engaging, and more user friendly for both students and faculty. Our virtual platform provides access to key information, images, 3D models, videos, and quizzes related to important geological concepts at each field location. By combining the accessibility of virtual technology with the exceptional local geology, our virtual field trip helps to overcome the limitations of traditional fieldwork while fostering curiosity and learning about geology. We are finding that participants are not only gaining a deeper understanding of the geological processes in Sonoma County, but are also developing an appreciation for the area's geological wonders and are now more prepared for the geologic workforce. This virtual field trip model can be expanded to other courses and demonstrates a real option to include in other field courses within our curriculum.