Immersive Visualization for the Geological Sciences

One characteristic of geologists is their ability to think in 3D. Whether this ability is developed as they advance as geologists or they were drawn to geology because they possessed this ability is an open question. However, experienced geologists possess this ability to such a degree that two or more geologists may verbally communicate about a complex 3D, real-world problem—each of them building and modifying a 3D image in their mind as they receive information from the others. They can verbally query the image of another and as a group may actually change perspective in the virtual/ mental 3D image. That is, they are capable of agreeing to look at the 3D problem from different positions in space … or time. They often need to trace the development of a particular geologic situation through geologic time. The group is capable of coming to consensus and running a very similar 3D movie in their individual minds. This movie is tweaked by evidential or opinion input from those involved, developing a cause and effect–based plausible explanation of the present geological situation. Similarly, the group may run this movie into the future to make predictions. Using immersive tools for visualizing the data is, therefore, both natural and powerful for geologists. Immersive 3D computer graphics technologies are tools that combine an intuitive 3D viewing environment with easily learned interaction mechanisms. These advanced 3D tools represent a natural operating platform for geologists who of necessity must think in 3D.