Interactive systems - GeoLab

ROCK EXPLORER

By touching and comparing the user learns which criteria are taken into account when classifying different kinds of rocks.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
On the sample surface up to 5 different rock samples can be shown. If one of them is moved into the classification space, the
system leads through 4 to 5 steps of classification: the user is asked to determine colour, structure, strength and shine simply
by closely examining the rock and then putting it into the adequate classification space.

If a mistake is made, the system will react and will lead the user by giving hints into the right direction until the user has correctly classified the rock. The user easily remembers what he has learned through the combination of learning and activity.

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, incl. console frame.
Prior selection of rocks and desired content.
The console can easily be adapted to the client‘s design needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)

VR-CLIMBING

Users learn in virtual reality why rock climbing depends
on geological processes.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
The visitor stands under the climbing construction and puts on a pull-down helmet with integrated VR headset. The helmet puts the visitor into a 3D panorama of a certain landscape. By using the climbing handles (operated through linkages) the visitor can
now ‚climb‘ up a virtual rock wall.

While climbing he receives information about rifts in the rocks, how they are used in climbing and how they developed. After reaching the peak, the visitor is rewarded with an impressive 3D panorama
view of the landscape..

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, climbing construction.
Prior selection of landscape, either standard
or individual. The console can easily be adapted to the
client‘s design needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)
Nature Park Zillertal Alps (A)

CONTINENTAL THRIFT

By using a time wheel, users learn how position and form of the continents change over millions of years, due to continental thrifting.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
The screen shows a computer animation of the supercontinent Pangaea and a timescale. The start position shows an animation of Central Europe today. As the visitor turns the steering wheel to the right, the continental plates on the display move into the future. A turn to the left moves the plates into the past.

An animation shows, according to the turning speed, the changes of form and position of the continents. You even see where your country will be in the future!

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, console structure.
Prior determination whether individual landscapes are to be used (Standard version: Central Europe). The console can easily be adapted to the client‘s design needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Natural History Museum, Vienna (A)
House of Nature, Salzburg (A)
Nature Park Zillertal Alps (A)
Centre of Biology, Linz (A)
Senckenberg Museum, Frankfurt (D)

MOUNTAIN BUILDING

Through the use of a steering lever, the users learn how tectonics influence the development of mountains.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
The screen shows a computer animation depicting the starting situation hundreds of million years ago (position of continental plates as a 3D cross section).

As the visitor presses the steering lever he simulates the movement of the continental drift. The continents (standard: African and Eurasian plate) collide and on the screen the mountain folding process is shown.

A parallely running time scale shows the duration of this process. A text or speaker provides additional background information.

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, console structure.
Prior determination whether the standard animation
or a specific cross section is to be used. Console design can be adapted to the customer‘s needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)

RIVER LANDSCAPE

Through lever movement the user understands how tectonic processes influenced the development of different river landscapes.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
On screen a computer animation shows the starting situation hundreds of Million years ago (view of a flat hill landscape with a river).

If the user pushes the lever up, the animation on screen will parallely show how the hills transform into mountains. Depending on the speed with which the lever is pushed the river will a) start to meander, b) flows to one side or c) will cut a gorge in the developing mountains.

A parallely running time scale will depict the duration of such processes in nature, text will provide background information..

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, console structure.
Prior determination whether the standard animation or a specific cross section is to be used.
Console design can be adapted to the customer‘s needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)

ICE AGE GLACIER

During a virtual ski tour over a pleistocene glacier the users learn about the geology, flora and fauna of the Great Ice Age.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
The screen shows a computer animated glacier landscape during the ice age. By moving the ski poles backward and forward the user moves either fast or slowly down the glacier.

On his way he encounters geological phenomena, meets a cave bear, learns about today‘s pleistocene relics, etc.
Parallel time scale, text or speaker.

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, console structure.
Prior determination whether the standard animation or a specific cross section is to be used.
Console design can be adapted to the customer‘s needs..

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)

EROSION EXPLORER

Users can influence the geological
weathering processes by experimenting
with different objects.

Audience: families, pupils, students

Use:
On the selection surface the user finds two different rocks (e.g. dolomite and limestone). A video on screen shows two real mountains of this kind and the user is asked to find out why their surface looks different.

In order to do this the user places one of the rocks onto the experimental surface under the tab, which he then opens. The virtual lab shows how rainwater containing CO2 is running onto the rocks.

By watching and repeated trying the user learns how rain, heat, cold, etc. influence erosion and thus lead to different characteristics of mountains. Texts will help with the experimenting.

Delivery:
Hardware & Software, console structure.
Prior determination of rocks to be displayed.
Console design can be adapted to the customer‘s needs.

Delivery time: 2-4 months

Reference installation:
Gesäuse National Park (Styria / A)