“Virtual outcrops in the modern
geological toolkit”
Dr Jess Pugsley, University of Aberdeen
51st Herdman Symposium, 17th February 2024

The advent of photorealistic, 3D computer models of geological outcrops (virtual outcrops) represents an significant development in the geoscience. Today, most virtual outcrops are generated through photogrammetry, a method of building 3D models from hundreds of overlapping photographs. Drones provide the best method of photo collection as they can acquire photos from multiple angles and get full coverage of the outcrops. As drones are now relatively low cost and easy to fly, they have become an essential part of the geologist's field kit. More recently many new smartphones have integrated closerange LiDAR enabling the construction of very high resolution mini virtual outcrop models. Traditional fieldwork can be greatly supplemented by virtual outcrops, particularly in mapping and measuring inaccessible cliff sections. Virtual outcrops can also be a key component of virtual field trips (VFTs). VFTs provide a virtual experience that can be used to enhance or even sometimes replace physical fieldtrips, for example by integrating worldclass example outcrops from across the globe or comparing geological outcrops to modern analogues (e.g. modern river systems).

Dr Pugsley is a Research Fellow in Virtual Geoscience and the Energy Transition at the University of Aberdeen. Her research integrates virtual and physical field work in a range of geological settings, as well as the development of virtual field trips in teaching. She was an invited speaker at the 51st Herdman Symposium, 17th February 2024.