The most recent upgrades I’ve made to the SaDVR (Strike and Dip Virtual Reality) Tool revolve around the addition of geologic field maps.

In this post I will cover field map levels and related upgrades made to the SaDVR Tool.

Below is a short demo video covering the primary steps needed to complete a field map level in SaDVR on the Oculus Quest

 

The purpose of field maps in the SaDVR Tool is to have the user travel to various locations around the map taking strike and dip measurements and observing rock samples. Once all of the measurements have been taken the geologist would normally collate this data to try to build/draw a cohesive map of the stratigraphy in the area.

New Features Added

  • Field Map Levels
  • Field Map Stations
  • Error Checking
  • World Map
  • Measurement Map Symbols

Field Map Levels

Field Map levels in the SaDVR (Strike and Dip Virtual Reality) Tool are levels containing a collection of field map stations placed around the map. Each of these stations represents an example of a geological outcrop for the user to take a strike and dip measurement from. Each station also has a hand sample which is a 3D model of a rock sample indicating the type of rock present at that location of the map. Once the user has collected measurements from all of the stations on the map and observed each of the hand samples they can start to collate the data to piece together a larger impression of what the stratigraphy of the map might be. Field map tests like these are common in geology education. The pictures below display an example of what these field maps look like. The pictures on the left display the blank versions of the map. The pictures on the right display the finished map with color bands displaying the different types of rock present around the map.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Field Map Stations

Field Map Stations are the locations around the map where the user can take strike and dip measurements. Each station has a station number, a surface the user can measure for strike and dip, and an example of the rock type present at that location of the map.

The picture below displays what a field station looks like.

 

 

Error Checking

The Error Checking feature has been added to the data window in field map levels for the SaDVR (Strike and Dip Virtual Reality) Tool. This feature checks the accuracy of the strike and dip measurements taken at each field map station. If any strike or dip measurement is incorrect by more than a specified margin of error, the data window will activate a red box around the incorrect measurement. This feature has been added to aid users that are new to strike and dip in order to help them avoid common mistakes such as measuring the dip at an uphill angle instead of a downhill angle. When the user takes a new and correct measurement the red box is removed. The pictures below display the new error checking feature as well as the difference between correct and incorrect measurements. The first picture displays an incorrect strike measurement. The second picture displays a correct strike measurement.

 

 

 

World Map

The World Map menu features a large overhead map of the level, a marker for the location of the user, a key for the rock types present on the map, and map markers for each field station.

The marker indicating the location of the user is a red dot with a black arrow pointing the direction the user is facing.

The rock type key can be found in the upper left corner of the world map. This key contains the name of each rock type that appear around the field map level as well as a corresponding map color for each rock type. Once the user has determines the type of rock at each station by observing the hand sample model, they can select that rock type from the stations map marker dropdown menu.

The field station map markers are white circles containing the station number corresponding to the station at that location. The user can click on these map markers to display a drop down menu of all of the rock types. Selecting one of these rock types from the drop down menu will change the color of the map marker and the stations slope cube to match the color corresponding to the rock type selected. The pictures below exhibit this process. The first picture shows a field station before it has been assigned to a rock type. The second picture shows the same field station after it has been assigned to a rock type.

 

 

Measurement Symbols

Measurement Symbols are markers that get placed on the world map anytime the user takes a strike and dip measurement. These symbols are shaped like an upper case “T” and replicate the symbol geologists use to mark strike and dip measurements on real world maps. When the user takes a strike and dip measurement, one of these symbols will be placed on the map with the corresponding location and direction as the measurement. The picture below displays what these symbols look like when appearing on the world map.