Virtual fieldwork - opportunities and links

Introduction

Des McDougall (University of Worcester) has written a number of virtual fieldtrip resources to support students in their fieldwork. The resources take the form of self-guided, immersive virtual field trips. High-quality, immersive imagery allows the viewer to look all around as they move through the landscape, moving from one stop to the next.  The most recent virtual field trips include environmental audio and hotspots linking to short video clips and zoomed-in photos.

All are self-guided, which means they are provided without interpretation. This provides you with the flexibility to use these virtual field trips in different ways, and it’s easy to develop (say) worksheets and mapping exercises to suit the needs of your students.

The newest resources are as follows:

Cwm Idwal, Wales (August 2021):

This classic site features a textbook-like cirque, ice-smoothed bedrock, moraines, and a range of slope features. The summits above are characterised by blockfield and tors. This is a remarkably clear landsystem contrast and as such is ideal for teaching students. See https://vrglaciers.wp.worc.ac.uk/idwal/ [Note: no environmental audio]

Glen Roy, Scotland (April 2022):

This classic site is internationally renowned for its visually impressive ice-dammed lake shorelines. Produced during the Loch Lomond (Younger Dryas) Stadial (12.9–11.7 ka BP), these shorelines played an important part in the development of the glacial theory in the 19th century, and they continue to be studied today. Other features present include gravel fans, moraines, slope failures, and a range of fluvial features. This virtual field trip can also be used to consider geoconservation and land management. See https://fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/wordpress/glen-roy-virtual-field-trip/

Coire Ardair, Scotland (April 2022):

This is a northeast-facing corrie located in the Western Grampian Highlands of Scotland. It was last occupied by ice during the Loch Lomond (Younger Dryas) Stadial (12.9–11.7 ka BP). This site is notable for its well-developed recessional moraines and impressive corrie. A range of slope and river features are also visible.

See https://fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/wordpress/coire-ardair-virtual-field-trip/

Slapton Shingle Ridge, England (May 2022)

Located in South Devon, Slapton shingle ridge separates a freshwater lagoon from the sea. It is a product of postglacial (Holocene) sea-level rise, which transported predominantly flint and quartz shingle onshore. Today, storm events and littoral drift continue to supply sediment to the ridge. Vegetated shingle is a relatively rare habitat, and the plants and insects on this ridge are of high conservation importance.

See https://fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/wordpress/slapton-virtual-field-trip/

Prawle Point, England (May 2022)

This coastal virtual field trip extends from Prawle Point to Gorah Rocks in South Devon (SW England). It features a sequence of shore platforms, intertidal wave-cut platforms, exposed solifluction (head) deposits, and tors. In addition, there is a notable contrast in biological communities between the relatively sheltered rocky shore of Gorah Rocks and the highly exposed Langerstone Point.

See https://fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/wordpress/prawle-virtual-field-trip/

Seatown, England (May 2022)

This coastal virtual field trip covers the area to the east of Seatown in Dorset, SW England. This area, which is part of the Jurassic Coast, is well known for its landslides. Around Seatown, the occurrence of a thick cap of sandy sediments (Lower Cretaceous) on top of clays is an important factor in slope failures. The soft, impermeable clay increases groundwater pressures and acts as a failure plane.

See https://fieldwork.wp.worc.ac.uk/wordpress/seatown-virtual-field-trip/

Bricola, Switzerland (June 2022)

This virtual field trip meanders through the trees and meadows of the Ferpècle valley (in the Val d'Hérens), before climbing up onto the upper slopes which provide excellent views of the Mont Miné and Ferpècle glaciers, as well as the wider landscape. I recently posted a photo comparison on Twitter (1966 vs 2022) (see https://twitter.com/DesMcD/status/1541502504848031747)

For the virtual field trip, see: https://vrglaciers.wp.worc.ac.uk/bricola/ 

Click the icon below for further VR fieldtrips.