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变化。但是，许多人对这些变化的范围的理解有限，因为它们在地理上遥远且难以可视化。尽管在过去的十年中，数字学习工具和在线科学数据存储库都大大扩展了，但目前尚无界面将两者融合在一起，使公众能够探索这些快速变化的冰川环境。因此，为了提高公众理解并为已经存在的资源提供更多的访问，项目团队将开发虚拟的ICE Explorer，以鼓励有关冰川环境的非正式学习。该Web应用程序将具有沉浸式虚拟环境，并为地球冰川系统阵列显示一套环境数据。交互式地球仪将使用户可以从从极地区域到热带纬度的站点集合中进行选择。每个特色网站将为用户提供与（1）景观3D渲染的机会；（2）网站的本地地图；（3）该网站的历史和当代照片；（4）描述位置，过去研究和气候影响的背景信息文本；（5）可用的环境数据。该应用程序的最原始功能之一将是通过将非常高分辨率的数字高程模型和卫星图像与应用程序的内置功能相结合，以实现冰川景观的现实，身临其境的3D渲染。尽管沉浸式环境通常需要昂贵的设备，但我们通过开发虚拟ICE Explorer来在Web浏览器中运行并在各种设备上运行功能来最大程度地提高可访问性。因此，该应用程序将适用于具有Internet访问的任何人，他们可以按照自己的节奏进行探索。作为虚拟ICE Explorer成功开发的一部分，项目团队将创建一个平台，以通过Web应用程序中的用户在3D中可视化和探索数字高程模型；策展人数字高程模型，地图，图像，文本和环境数据，以包含在Web应用程序中，以了解多达11种地理上不同的冰川/冰川景观；迭代用户测试与项目合作伙伴的Web应用程序；并设计系统的架构，可以轻松扩展到更大的冰川/冰川景观集合。为了扩展最终产品的传播，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了解外，项目团队还将探索用于空间学习的应用，3D环境的教育干预措施以及在正式学习环境中使用虚拟ICE Explorer的应用。该项目由非正式的STEM学习（AISL）计划资助，该计划旨在推进对非正式环境中STEM学习的设计和开发的新方法和基于证据的理解。这包括提供多种途径，以扩大对STEM学习经验的访问和参与度，推进对非正式环境中STEM学习的创新研究，并发展参与者对更深入学习的理解。该项目还得到了极地计划办公室的支持。