Project Team
Students
Luke Kepner
Telecommunications
Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Penn State University Park
Jason Kepner
Telecommunications
Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Penn State University Park
David Neilson
Surveying Engineering
Penn State Wilkes-Barre
Faculty Mentors
Dimitrios Bolkas
Wilkes-Barre
Surveying Engineering
Project
Project Video
Project Abstract
Enhancing Outdoor Lab Instruction with Immersive Technologies
Jason Kepner (Wilkes-Barre, University Park) Telecommunications 2022, Luke Kepner (Wilkes-Barre, University Park) Telecommunications 2022, David Neilson (Wilkes-Barre) Surveying Engineering 2021, Dimitrios Bolkas (Wilkes-Barre) Asst. Professor Surveying Engineering
Surveying engineering education requires extensive practice with instruments and equipment that are used for outdoor data collection of 3D spatial datasets. As technology advances, surveying techniques and practices become complicated. Typical introductory labs involve the instructor providing an overview of the instrument in class and then explaining how the students need to complete the laboratory before they go outdoors. However, students often have questions that arise during the laboratory, but it is difficult for the instructor to assist all groups in a timely manner as groups work on different parts of the campus. This creates unique instructional challenges and frustrates students, making outdoor laboratories unpleasant.
To address these challenges, we created instructional material using immersive technologies. Using 360-cameras we have developed numerous instructional videos that students can watch before conducting outdoor labs. Immersive videos increase spatial comprehension of complex lab steps that are difficult to depict and explain. In addition, to the 360-videos we developed android applications that show major lab steps in augmented reality. The augmented reality labs use precise GPS coordinates and “shows” objects in desired real-world locations. Using a tablet, students will be able to play the applications and experience major lab steps in the real environment while conducting the lab. The goal is that 360-videos and augmented reality will work in tandem and students, based on their preference, will watch the 360-videos in the field or use the augmented reality apps. The 360-videos and augmented reality apps will be tested Fall of 2020 in a freshman class of the surveying engineering program at Penn State Wilkes-Barre.
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