Virtual Ice Explorer: Immersively Experiencing Changing Glacial Landscapes

虚拟冰探险家：沉浸式体验不断变化的冰川景观

基本信息

批准号：
1713537
负责人：
Jason Cervenec
金额：
$ 29.91万
依托单位：
Ohio State University
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2017
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2017-09-01 至 2021-08-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1713537&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Virtual Ice Explorer Immersively Experiencing

项目摘要

Glaciers around the world are undergoing dramatic changes. Many people, however, have a limited understanding of the scope of these changes because they are geographically distant and difficult to visualize. Although both digital learning tools and online scientific data repositories have greatly expanded over the last decade, there is currently no interface that brings the two together in a way that allows the public to explore these rapidly changing glacial environments. Therefore, to both improve public understanding and provide greater access to already existing resources, the project team will develop the Virtual Ice Explorer to encourage informal learning about glacial environments. This web application will feature an immersive virtual environment and display a suite of environmental data for an array of Earth's glacial systems. An interactive globe will allow users to select from a collection of sites ranging from polar regions to tropical latitudes. Each featured site will offer users an opportunity to interact with (1) a 3D rendering of the landscape; (2) a local map of the site; (3) historical and contemporary photographs of the site; (4) background information text describing the location, past research, and climate impacts; and (5) available environmental data. One of the most original features of the application will be its realistic, immersive 3D rendering of glacial landscapes by combining very high-resolution digital elevation models and satellite imagery with the application's built-in capabilities for immersive virtual environments. Although immersive environments often require expensive equipment, we are maximizing accessibility by developing the Virtual Ice Explorer to run in a web browser and function across various devices. Thus, the application will be available to anyone with internet access, and they can explore at their own pace. As part of the successful development of Virtual Ice Explorer, the project team will create a platform for digital elevation models to be visualized and explored in 3D by users within the web application; curate digital elevation models, maps, images, text, and environmental data for inclusion in the web application for up to 11 geographically diverse glaciers/glacial landscapes; iteratively user-test the web application with project partners; and design the architecture of the system to readily scale to a larger collection of glaciers/glacial landscapes. To extend dissemination of the final products, the team has partnered with the U.S. Geologic Survey to showcase four benchmark glaciers in their long-term Glaciers and Climate project. In addition to improving understanding of glacier systems in informal learning environments, the project team will explore applications for spatial learning, employment of 3D environments for educational interventions, and use of Virtual Ice Explorer in formal learning environments. This project is funded by the Advancing Informal STEM Learning (AISL) program, which seeks to advance new approaches to, and evidence-based understanding of, the design and development of STEM learning in informal environments. This includes providing multiple pathways for broadening access to and engagement in STEM learning experiences, advancing innovative research on and assessment of STEM learning in informal environments, and developing understandings of deeper learning by participants. The project also has support from the Office of Polar Programs.

世界各地的冰川正在发生巨大的变化。然而，许多人对这些变化的范围了解有限，因为它们在地理上遥远且难以想象。尽管数字学习工具和在线科学数据存储库在过去十年中都得到了极大的扩展，但目前还没有任何界面可以将两者结合在一起，让公众能够探索这些快速变化的冰川环境。因此，为了提高公众的理解并提供更多对现有资源的访问，项目团队将开发虚拟冰探索器，以鼓励对冰川环境的非正式学习。该网络应用程序将具有沉浸式虚拟环境，并显示一系列地球冰川系统的环境数据。交互式地球仪将允许用户从从极地地区到热带纬度的一系列站点中进行选择。每个特色站点都将为用户提供与 (1) 景观的 3D 渲染进行交互的机会；（二）现场局部地图； (3) 遗址的历史和当代照片； (4) 描述地点、过去的研究和气候影响的背景信息文本； (5) 现有的环境数据。该应用程序最原始的功能之一是通过将超高分辨率数字高程模型和卫星图像与应用程序的沉浸式虚拟环境内置功能相结合，对冰川景观进行逼真、身临其境的 3D 渲染。尽管沉浸式环境通常需要昂贵的设备，但我们正在通过开发 Virtual Ice Explorer 在网络浏览器中运行并跨各种设备运行来最大限度地提高可访问性。因此，任何能够访问互联网的人都可以使用该应用程序，并且他们可以按照自己的节奏进行探索。作为 Virtual Ice Explorer 成功开发的一部分，项目团队将创建一个平台，供用户在 Web 应用程序中以 3D 方式可视化和探索数字高程模型；管理数字高程模型、地图、图像、文本和环境数据，以包含在 Web 应用程序中，涵盖多达 11 个地理不同的冰川/冰川景观；与项目合作伙伴一起对 Web 应用程序进行迭代用户测试；并设计系统的架构，以便轻松扩展到更大的冰川/冰川景观集合。为了扩大最终产品的传播，该团队与美国地质调查局合作，在其长期冰川和气候项目中展示了四个基准冰川。除了提高对非正式学习环境中冰川系统的理解外，项目团队还将探索空间学习的应用、利用 3D 环境进行教育干预以及在正式学习环境中使用虚拟冰探索器。该项目由推进非正式 STEM 学习 (AISL) 计划资助，该计划旨在推进非正式环境中 STEM 学习设计和开发的新方法以及基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径来扩大 STEM 学习体验的获取和参与，推进非正式环境中 STEM 学习的创新研究和评估，以及加深参与者对更深层次学习的理解。该项目还得到了极地项目办公室的支持。