UCL students explore ancient rocks in virtual reality

UCL Earth Sciences students, unable to take part in their normal field-based classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic, are instead using virtual reality headsets to learn about Britain's oldest rocks from northwest Scotland. This "virtual field trip" is one of eight produced by the Earth Sciences department this year, and comprises dozens of videos from different locations as well as drone footage, 3D images and terrain models. The students can "virtually" move across the area, making observations and gathering critical data as they go. A team of academics, led by Professor Tom Mitchell (UCL Earth Sciences), worked through September 2020 to recreate the traditional field trip experience, recording 40 videos from different locations along the route, creating 3D images of 80 different rock specimens, and filming 3D footage from a drone flying high above the coastline. They developed a multimedia website that enables students to tour the region using drone footage as well as Google Earth and Google Street View. Students can zoom into different areas along the coast to Students are also supplied with low-cost virtual reality goggles that can be fitted to a smartphone, allowing them to explore the region's landscape and rocks in virtual reality from home. Earth Sciences BSc student Mansi Baguant said it was "thrilling" to see Scotland in such a different way and that "mapping from the comfort of your own home is actually a lot of fun".