Visualizing Ice Sheets in Extended Reality
About
The VISER Project (formerly known as POL-AR/VR) is an interdisciplinary approach toward improving the ways in which earth science data is visualized, interpreted, and interacted with. This collaboration between Prof. Steven Feiner’s Computer Graphics & User Interfaces (CGUI) Lab and PGG has yielded novel results and begun forging a path within this intersectional discipline.
Earth science researchers practice interpreting their 2-Dimensional data into the 3rd Dimension throughout their entire careers. However, technology has reached a point where the Z-Axis can now be supported accurately and graphically.
This collaboration intends to improve traditional dataset visualization and interpretation methods by using computer vision techniques, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) framework, XR hardware, open source software, GIS systems, and complex geophysical data integration. VISER provides visualization techniques to place regional 3D datasets in geospatial context while innovating upon the way earth scientists interface with their datasets. Our aim is to elevate the way they analyze inherently 3D datasets - by reintroducing the Z-Axis.
VISER's goal is to invest in and develop innovative research applications for Arctic and Antarctic geospatial datasets using cutting edge immersive technology.
VISER Applications
Inside the Ice Shelf: Zoom Antarctica was an Augmented Reality (AR) application developed for the Microsoft HoloLens1. Spearheaded by Martin Pratt and Alexandra Boghosian in 2018, Zoom Antarctica successfully combined LiDAR imagery, ice-penetrating radar imagery, Ross Ice Shelf topographical digital elevation models (DEMs) of the surface and bedrock. These datasets were geospatially correct and aligned with one another, displaying a 3-D rendering of the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica.
For more information, click this link: Inside the Ice Shelf Zoom Antarctica
The Greenland Project was a Mixed Reality (XR) application developed for the Microsoft HoloLens1 and Oculus Quest1. Spearheaded by Sofía Sanchez-Zarate, Carmine Elvezio, and Alexandra Boghosian in 2020, The Greenland Project successfully combined ice-penetrating radar imagery, Greenland topographical digital elevation models (DEMs) of the surface and bedrock, in-app measurement tools, cross-platform networking, and more. These datasets were geospatially correct and aligned with one another, displaying a 3-D rendering of the Ryder Ice Shelf in Greenland. The addition of data manipulation and measurement within a cooperative environment was crucial during a global pandemic.
For more information, click this link: The Greenland Project
AntARctica is a Mixed Reality (XR) application developed for the Microsoft HoloLens2 and Oculus Quest2. Spearheaded by the POL-V/AR interdisciplinary development team in 2021, AntARctica successfully combined ice-penetrating radar imagery, surface and bedrock topographical digital elevation models (DEMs), CSV thickness and surface measurements, and more. The application provided: real-time in-app measurement tools, transparency sliders, gesture controls, voice commands, and geographic information. This geospatially correct, 3-D representation of the Ross Ice Shelf and ROSETTA-Ice data allowed earth scientists, and laypeople alike, to explore the Antarctic ice shelf in depth.
For more information, click this link: AntARctica
The Pol-XR application contains two scenes: a Ross Ice Shelf scene developed from the AntARctica application; and a Peterman Ice Shelf scene using CReSIS MCoRDS radar data. Both scenes combine ice-penetrating radar imagery, surface and bedrock digital elevation models (DEMs), thickness measurements, surface measurements, and more. The application provides: real-time in-app measurements tools, transparency sliders, gesture controls, voice commands, and geographic information. This geospatially correct 3-D representation of polar data, allows earth scientists and interested parties alike, to explore complex polar datasets.
This application is in active development.
For more information, click this link: Pol-XR
Publications & Presentations:
Visualizing Ice Sheets in Extended Reality (VISER) for the Improvement of Polar Data Analysis
S. Isabel Cordero, Alexandra Boghosian, Joel Salzman, Qazi Ashikin, Eris Gao, Jake Torres, Hao Lucas Yuan, Zihao Zhang, Yolanda Zhu, Carmine Elvezio, Sofía Sánchez-Zárate, Ben Yang, Shengyue Guo, Kirsty Tinto, Steven Feiner, & Robin Bell
AGU 2023 Fall Meeting. Poster IN43B-0624.
Bibcode: 2023AGUFMIN43B0624C
Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality for Ice-Sheet Data Analysis
Alexandra Boghosian, S. Isabel Cordero, Carmine Elvezio, Sofía Sánchez-Zárate, Ben Yang, Shengyue Guo, Qazi Ashikin, Joel Salzman, Kirsty Tinto,
Steven Feiner, & Robin E. Bell
IGARSS 2023 - 2023 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, Pasadena, CA, USA, 2023, pp. 52-55
doi: 10.1109/IGARSS52108.2023.10283077
AntARctica: An Immersive 3D Look into Antarctica's Ice Using Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality
Alexandra Boghosian, S. Isabel Cordero, Kirsty J. Tinto, Steven Feiner, Robin E. Bell, Benjamin Yang, & Shengyue Guo
AGU 2022 Fall Meeting. Poster IN32B-0394.
Bibcode: 2022AGUFMIN32B0394B
The Beardmore Basal Body: Tracing Basal Features of the Ross Ice Shelf
S. Isabel Cordero, Alexandra Boghosian, Kirsty J. Tinto
AGU 2022 Fall Meeting. Poster C15D-0612.
Bibcode: 2022AGUFM.C15D0612C
Uncovering the origin of basal features at the Ross Ice Shelf using radar and augmented reality
Alexandra Boghosian, S. Isabel Cordero, Sofía Sánchez-Zárate, Carmine Elvezio, Kirsty J. Tinto, Steven Feiner, Robin Bell, Shengyue Guo, Emily Mackevicius, John Paden, & Ben Yang
AGU 2021 Fall Meeting. Invited Talk NS13A-07.
Bibcode: 2021AGUFMNS13A..07B
Development of ice-shelf estuaries promotes fractures and calving
Alexandra L. Boghosian, Lincoln H. Pitcher, Laurence C. Smith, Elena Kosh, Patrick M. Alexander, Marco Tedesco, & Robin E. Bell
Nature Geoscience, vol. 14: pp. 899-905. 2021.
doi: 10.1038/s41561-021-00837-7
Investigating 3D visualization tools in glaciology: from storytelling to discovery
S. Isabel Cordero, Alexandra L. Boghosian, Kirsty J. Tinto, Caitlin Locke, Jonathan Kingslake, & Robin E. Bell
AGU 2020 Fall Meeting. Pre-Recorded Talk ED012-06.
Bibcode: 2020AGUFMED012..06C
Inside the ice shelf: using augmented reality to visualise 3D lidar and radar data of Antarctica
Alexandra L. Boghosian, Martin J. Pratt, Maya K. Becker, S. Isabel Cordero, Tejendra Dhakal, Jonathan Kingslake, Caitlin D. Locke, Kirsty J. Tinto,
& Robin E. Bell
Photogrammetric Record, vol. 34: pp. 346-364. 2019.
doi: 10.1111/phor.12298
HoloLens visualization of the Ross Ice Shelf (interactive poster)
Alexandra L. Boghosian, Peter Richards, Martin J. Pratt, Jonathan Kingslake, Robin E. Bell
Virtual Geoscience Conference, Kingston, ON, Canada, Aug. 23-24, 2018
Integrating Instrumental Data Provides the Full Science in 3D
Margie Turrin, Alexandra Boghosian, Robin E. Bell, & Nick Frearson
AGU Fall Meeting 2017. Poster C14B-05.
Bibcode: 2017AGUFM.C14B..05T
Virtual Reality: Bringing the Awe of Our Science into The Classroom with VR
Robin E. Bell, Margie Turrin, Nick Frearson, Alexandra Boghosian, Vicky L. Ferrini, & Frances Simpson
AGU 2016 Fall Meeting.
Bibcode: 2016AGUFMED41C..06B
Bringing 3D Printing to Geophysical Science Education
Alexandra Boghosian, Margie Turrin, & David F. Porter
AGU 2014 Fall Meeting. Poster ED51A-3423.
Bibcode: 2014AGUFMED51A3423B
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Old York Foundation, the Columbia Climate Center, the Columbia Climate School, the Columbia School of Computer Sciences, the Open Polar Radar (OPoRa) Project, and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory