Using Interactive Multi-Media Panorama Virtual Reality to Balance Heritage Science, Education and Conservation At Zhoukoudian, Fangshan UNESCO Global Geopark
摘要
The Fangshan Pluton in the Zhoukoudian within the Fangshan UNESCO Global Geopark is a typical intrusive pluton formed through the evolution of the Paleo-Pacific tectonic domain during the Jurassic to Cretaceous period. This pluton is holds significant scientific and educational value. However, to preserve its integrity, access is sometimes restricted or prohibited, which could inadvertently limit its educational potential. This paper presents the design and implementation of an Interactive Multi-Media Panorama Virtual Reality (IMMPVR) system to balance heritage science, education and conservation. An application experiment was conducted on the Fangshan Pluton, yielding promising results. The system immerses users in 3D virtual environments, enabling them to explore geological phenomena and interact with virtual tools to gain knowledge without physically entering or damaging the geosite. It incorporates practice and Q&A features to enhance learning, integrates multimedia content highlighting human-induced damage to promote environmental awareness, and includes a database for long-term scientific data storage. These data can be utilised by the system as teaching and practice materials, or downloaded by visitors for scientific research, thereby improving data utilisation while minimising damage from repeated sampling. Additionally, the data support geospatial and multi-temporal studies. In summary, the IMMPVR system offers a comprehensive solution for advancing scientific research, education, and conservation of geoheritage sites.