The system has been developed by Statoil in partnership with external consultants and is based on a three-dimensional topographical model of a landscape.
Satellite images can be added to make the landscape more realistic.
Thematic textures can also be added, such as geological maps, airborne magnetic surveys, etc.
Gathered field data, such as images of geological sections, magnetic and seismic surveys, videos, animations of geological processes and so on, are applied to the virtual terrain, in the correct place.
This involves travel to actual geographical locations to gather observed data. This makes the learning process more exciting and creative.
The key purpose with such geosimulators is that fieldwork and field training can be rehearsed by becoming acquainted with the landscape to be visited, in advance.
Prior familiarity of the geology and geography of the real world therefore results in a better learning effect in the field.
Returning home from an actual field trip, the experience can be relived - virtually - on a PC or visionarium and the learning process continued.
Geosimulators can also be taken out into the field on a laptop and linked to a GPS for positioning. They can also collect data from original data sources and visualise various types of data in a new and exciting way.
The interface is designed intuitively and simply.
Statoil has developed many different geosimulators from different parts of the world for various purposes. Video presentation samples of three of these are presented.
