GEOSCIENCES

Geoscientists, like the Virtalis team, think in 3D. Until recently, though, they had to make do with 2D tools. However, when the British Geological Survey turned to us for help several years ago, we realised that this was an area in which we could really make a difference.

Not only does our ActiveWorks range of VR systems provide an immersive, collaborative environment for geoscientists to work together, but our experience with truly massive data sets meant we could help them work entirely in 3D.

We created GeoVisionary. This software, unlike any other, combines a powerful data engine with a virtual geological toolkit to enable geoscientists to visualise, analyse and share large geoscientific datasets seamlessly in an immersive, real-time environment.

Virtalis’ approach to GeoVisionary was different from any other company involved in GIS mapping. Our starting point was that we want to be able to view all of the data all of the time and we wanted to view it in 3D at the highest level of detail. GeoVisionary has a growing community who use it for:

• Up to the minute data, streamed from a GeoDB (i.e. Oracle).
• High detail 3D models, with ability to edit data.
• Presentations of work.
• Training new recruits.
• Planning field trips before going out to site.
• Sharing information and communicating within the team.
• Remote collaboration between field-based team and the office.
• Multiple projects in a single environment.
• Keep sensitive data secure on your own network.
• View on the desktop or in an immersive display.

A closer look at Scotland's geology using GeoVisionary:

Virtalis and BGS have ensured that all major data sources can be ingested, including photography, with multiple data layers able to be viewed at once. A dynamic two-way link has been created between GeoVisionary and ESRI-ArcGIS.

"Fundamentally, GeoVisionary is changing the way geoscientists approach their work. Feedback has been unanimously positive and the mapping teams report a much better understanding of the landscape, especially where features that might have been easy to overlook prior to GeoVisionary can now receive additional analysis."
Bruce Napier - Project Leader, BGS Virtual Field Reconnaissance.

"GeoVisionary pulls disparate mapping data together under one high-resolution 3-D visualization environment, integrates dynamically with ArcGIS and works with logistical and data management solutions already in place."
Don Keefer, Director of the Illinois State Geological Survey’s Geologic Mapping and Hydrogeology Center.

For more information, contact geovisionary@virtalis.com