Geological maps and 3D digital visualization of geological objects: tools for improving students' education in Earth Sciences

Fabrizio Berra
Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra "A. Desio", Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133, Milan, Italy. Corresponding author e-mail: fabrizio.berra@unimi.it

Learning geology requires the knowledge of geological processes that must be applied to the study of specific situations. Geological education requires also three-dimensional (3D) skills that can be improved with training. Important tools for developing 3D skills while teaching geology are geological maps, today rarely used for educational purposes. Modern, digital tools (easily accessible on the internet) can further help in teaching geology, improving students’ skills in visualizing 3D geological objects. We can identify three types of digital tools to integrate education with geological maps: 1) visualize the Earth in 3D view; 2) visualize and navigate 3D geological models; 3) create 3D digital geological models. The integration of the study of the basic rules of geology with the stimulation of the 3D geological visualization is promising in increasing a sensibility toward the Earth Sciences, important for citizens that live in a geologically dynamic country, such as Italy.

geological maps, 3D geological visualization, digital models, geology education.