Three-dimensional construction and visualization of complex geologic environments for virtual field practice and virtual education

Three-dimensional(3D) virtual environments and immersive simulation can be used to improve students' understanding of complex material in the science curriculum. Virtual field practice or virtual field trip (VFT) has become popular with both university students and teachers as a means of learning and teaching during the last decade. The paper presents 3D construction and visualization of complex geologic environments based on Virtual Geographic Environment(VGE) that enable us to improve the effects of geologic field practice, making geologic field practice education more efficient and effective. We introduce the technology of VGE and present a VGE-based project, Huyu Virtual Geologic Field Practice System. The approach provides a flexibility interaction platform and distributed and collaborative learning system for students' learning and virtual practicing. To some extent, it can be a replacement of traditional geologic field practice. This is of greateducational importance for the innovativewaysof virtual field trips.