Abstract. In this paper we discuss the use of three-dimensional (3-D)
imagery and virtual field trips to teach pre-university and non-major
university geoscience courses. In particular, 3-D PDF (Portable Document Format) files can be used to either
prepare students for or completely replace a field trip when logistical
problems make the actual trip too difficult to be effective or when some
students need an alternative accommodation. Three-dimensional images can
replace or supplement classroom activities, such as the identification of
rocks and minerals from hand samples or the identification of geologic
structures from 2-D photographs and limited field observations. Students can
also become involved in data collection and processing to further their
understanding of photogrammetry and visualization. The use of 3-D imagery
can make additional time available to instructors to cover more advanced
topics and teach students more about the role of science in geologic
research. We use an example from Cristo Rey, New Mexico, where dinosaur footprints and
tracks are present but difficult to see in many cases, and they are often in places
that are hard to access for many people. At this site, approximately 10 000 photographs were collected and processed as 3-D images to show one
approximately 72 m2 area of known footprints. However, we also conducted
some very simple digital manipulations of the images that allowed us to
identify new footprints and tracks that were not apparent when viewed in the
field. The photographs and 3-D images have been donated to the Insights El Paso Science Center (denoted Insights Museum herein) that owns the fossil site, and they are now being used to develop
educational materials and lessons for the nearby communities.
Listings of model-input values for the simulation of ground-water flow in the Mesilla Basin, Dona Ana County, New Mexico and El Paso County, Texas