Virtual Field Research Articles

Stress distribution evaluation at localized necking area using the virtual fields method with digital image correlation

Stress distribution evaluation at localized necking area using the virtual fields method with digital image correlation

Investigate pre-service teachers’ learning behaviors and their relationship with academic performance through LMS log data

Learning Management Systems (LMS) have been widely used by many universities to support teaching and learning. Extensive research has shown that LMS usage patterns are associated with learners’ outcomes, however, related studies from the pre-service teachers’ perspective are limited. This paper aims to further explore the association between pre-service teachers' LMS patterns and their learning outcomes using a quantitative method. After examining 172 pre-service teachers’ LMS log data and performance, the findings show that times participated and assignment on time percent are significant predictors of their grades. Moreover, pre-service teachers demonstrated distinct LMS behavioral patterns in LMS when engaging with the Virtual Field Experience theme. The findings provide insights into future curriculum and course designs to better support pre-service teachers.

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Virtual Field Trips on Secondary School Students’ Cognitive Proficiency in Biology

A Systematic Review of the Effects of Virtual Field Trips on Secondary School Students’ Cognitive Proficiency in Biology

"Feels Like an Indie Game"-Evaluation of a Virtual Field Trip Prototype on Radioactive Waste Management Research for University Education.

This article describes the design and evaluation of a virtual field trip on the topic of radioactive waste management research for university education. We created an interactive virtual tour through the Mont Terri underground research laboratory by enhancing the virtual experiment information system, designed for domain experts, with background information, illustrations, tasks, tests, and an improved user interface. To put the tour's content into context, a conventional introductory presentation on the final disposal of radioactive waste was added. A user study with 22 participants proved a good perceived usability of the virtual tour and the virtual field trip's ability to transfer knowledge. These results suggest a benefit of employing virtual field trips in geoscientific university courses. In addition, it is conceivable to use the virtual field trip as a tool for science communication in the context of participatory processes during nuclear waste disposal site selection processes.

Studi Meta Analisis : Peningkatan Kemampuan Literasi Biodiversitas Berdasarkan Model Pembelajaran dan Tingkat Pendidikan

This research aims to analyze the increase in biodiversity literacy skills based on learning methods and level of education. Apart from that, this research also analyzes indicators of biodiversity literacy. The research analyzed 8 reputable international journals with 6 learning methods, 4 levels of education, and 10 biodiversity literacy assessment indicators. The research was carried out with meta analysis in the form of effect size analysis using the OpenMEE application. The research results stated that, based on the analysis of 8 reputable international journals, the estimated Effect Size (ES) value was 0.357 in the medium category (0.2 ≤ ES ≤ 0.8) and the p-Value < 0.001. Meanwhile, heterogeneous analysis shows that the Tau^2 value is 0.127 with an I^2 of 89.434, meaning that the diversity of variance from the journal studies analyzed has a very significant effect. Meanwhile, the results of the effect size analysis based on the learning model stated that there were 3 learning methods that obtained an estimated Effect Size (ES) value in the high category, including: Green Learning Method (GeLem) obtained an estimated effect size value of 3.797, a learning method based on local wisdom obtained a value The estimated effect size was 1.665, and the Virtual Field Trip assisted by Augmented Reality obtained an estimated effect size value of 0.974. Furthermore, the results of the effect size analysis of biodiversity literacy abilities at various levels of education stated that high school students had higher biodiversity literacy abilities compared to other levels of education, namely 1.281 in the high category (ES ³ 0.8). This research also analyzes the effect size value based on biodiversity literacy indicators. Based on 10 biodiversity literacy indicators, only one indicator shows the highest estimated effect size value compared to other indicators, namely the environmental knowledge indicator of 1.813. Thus, it can be concluded that there is a significant influence in increasing biodiversity literacy skills based on learning methods and level of education.

Virtual Trip to the Abric Romaní site and its lithic procurement areas

This paper introduces the virtual field trip organised on the occasion of the 13th International Symposium on Knappable Materials in Tarragona from 4th to 6th October 2021, showing the Abric Romaní site (NE Iberian Peninsula) and the chert procurement areas located within a 30 km radius.
 The Abric Romaní section consists of a general presentation of the Middle Palaeolithic site, including a brief description of its 50 m stratigraphic sequence, where more than 20 archaeological levels have been identified dating from 110 to 39 ka BP, and some of the main traits of the archaeological assemblages have been recovered. This was followed by an introduction of the siliceous outcrops of the Panadella cherts approximately 24 km from the Abric Romaní; the Sant Martí de Tous chert outcrops 16 km away and the Valldeperes and Ca l’Alemany chert outcrops at distances of 24 and 25 km, respectively. In all cases, the geological formations, as well as the main chert macroscopic and microscopic characteristics, are described. 
 This paper yields the most relevant aspects of a field trip that had to be recorded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but which brought us back together and facilitated the presentation of the main source areas frequented by the Neanderthals groups of this referential site.

Can Primary Source Evidence Skills be Improved by using Virtual Field Trip Learning Resources?

The development of historical thinking skills, one must analyze historical event evidence. A thorough, reliable, and trustworthy grasp of history will be created through a variety of historical sources. In order to construct historical narratives, one has to be able to find, recognize, evaluate, interpret, and generalize information from primary source material. In order to fully fulfill this potential, educators must create effective ways. Due to this, the purpose of this study is to (1) explain the value of using original sources to support historical understanding and (2) find ways to use Virtual Field Trip media to help students use primary sources to support their historical learning. A literature review is employed to obtain the answers to the stated research questions. Literature reviews that were pertinent to the issue under study were used to gather research data. The interactive model developed by Miles and Huberman for data analysis included data gathering, data reduction, data display, and conclusion-making. The study's major results point out that (1) using primary source evidence effectively is crucial for developing historical understanding and (2) using virtual field trip media effectively helps students develop higher-order thinking skills, including the ability to use primary sources effectively. According to the conclusions, this article advises teachers to employ learning resources that provide students with hands-on experience.

Feedforward pitch control for a 15 MW wind turbine using a spinner-mounted single-beam lidar

Abstract. Feedforward blade pitch control is one of the most promising lidar-assisted control strategies due to its significant improvement in rotor speed regulation and fatigue load reduction. A high-quality preview of the rotor-effective wind speed is a key element of control benefits. In this work, a single-beam lidar is simulated in the spinner of a bottom-fixed IEA 15 MW wind turbine. Both continuous-wave (CW) and pulsed lidar systems are considered. The single-beam lidar can rotate with the wind turbine rotor and scan the inflow with a circular pattern, which mimics a multiple-beam nacelle lidar at a lower cost. Also, the spinner-based lidar has an unimpeded view of the inflow without intermittent blockage from the rotating blade. The focus distance and the cone angle of the spinner-based single-beam lidar are optimized for the best wind preview quality based on a rotor-effective wind speed coherence model. Then, the control benefits of using the optimized spinner-based lidar are evaluated for an above-rated wind speed in OpenFAST with an embedded lidar simulator and virtual four-dimensional Mann turbulence fields considering the wind evolution. Results are compared against those using a single-beam nacelle-based lidar. We found that the optimum scanning configurations of both CW and pulsed spinner-based single-beam lidars lead to a lidar scan radius of 0.6 of the rotor radius. Also, results show that a single-beam lidar mounted in the spinner provides many more control benefits (i.e. better rotor speed regulations and higher reductions in the damage equivalent loads on the tower base and blade roots) than the one based on the nacelle. The spinner-based single-beam lidar has a similar performance to a four-beam nacelle lidar when used for feedforward control.

Innovative History Learning through Virtual Field Trips Model

The purpose of this research is to create an innovative history learning model by using a virtual field trip model. The problem will be studied in this study are: (1) what is the essence reality in learning history? (2) how is the application of the virtual field trip model to a history learning? Research method selected for this study is a literature study where the data material needed are obtained from books, journals, encyclopedias, articles and others. According to the study result, it defines a learning history is a teaching and learning activity regarding past events with conveyed meaning for the present. Within its development process in responding to the Covid 19 pandemic, an innovative virtual field trip model was created and designed to make students able to play an active role in the history learning process which can be seen from the following syntax: (1) Determining the learning materials, (2) Guiding the group/individual investigations, (3) Presenting the result of students’ investigation and (4) Evaluation. Keywords: Learning Model, History Learning, Virtual Field Trips

Autonomous collision avoidance method for MASSs based on precise potential field modelling and COLREGs constraints in complex sailing environments

Autonomous collision avoidance (CA) for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASSs) in complex navigational environments requires accurate environment modelling and efficient CA algorithms. This study proposes a fast construction method for complex environmental potential field models applicable to vector charts. It accurately represents all complex static obstacles, including concave polygons, and dynamically adjusts the range of influence of a potential field according to its danger level. For dynamic ships, a dynamic obstacle modelling method, based on the quaternion ship domain, is designed to highlight the uncertain motion characteristics of ships. Based on the coupled modelling of dynamic and static obstacles, the virtual potential field of target ships, constrained by the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGs), was constructed. By combining the first-order Nomoto model and optimal field prediction strategy, an optimal CA path, satisfying ship dynamics and COLREGs constraints, was realised, and the local optimal problem of the traditional artificial potential field method was solved. Simulation results show that the proposed method accomplishes fast and accurate modelling of complex environments and realises autonomous path planning and real-time multivessel CA tasks for MASSs in complex water considering the COLREGs constraints. Thus, the proposed method can be implemented in actual ships.

Supporting Student Learning and Understanding of Geoscience Using Virtual Reality and Video Demonstrations

We examined the impact of geoscience demonstration and virtual reality field trip videos on student assessment confidence, performance, and their overall attitudes towards learning geology using a mixed methods sequential explanatory design. Participants were 111 undergraduate students enrolled in an introductory geology course in one of four consecutive semester offerings. Repeated for 13 videos, students would watch a video of a demonstration or virtual field trip and answer select-response questions. Then during a later exam students answered questions specifically associated with the video content while also rating their answer confidence using a ten-point scale. Open-ended student comments were collected from a four-question survey at the end of each semester. Findings of student responses to four of the videos suggest that the use of the demonstration videos and virtual reality field trips had a positive impact on student learning of geological concepts. Qualitative findings affirmed the voice and personalization principles of the Cognitive Theory of Multimedia Learning.

Development of a Frequency-Adapted Virtual Fields Method as an alternative to the Corrected Force Analysis Technique for dynamic forces and structural parameter identification

In vibroacoustics, inverse methods use the vibratory response of a structure to identify either a load or a structural parameter. The Force Analysis Technique (FAT) and the Virtual Fields Method (VFM), are two inverse methods that have been used in the past to identify loads or structural parameters of flexural beams or plates. The Corrected Force Analysis Technique (CFAT) is another inverse method that corrects the singularity of FAT, making this approach more accurate at higher frequencies. In this study, this principle is applied to the VFM, using polynomial interpolation of the displacement field, in order to adapt the method so that at each frequency, the accuracy of the method is improved. The accuracy of the Frequency-Adapted VFM is demonstrated using numerical simulations. A formal comparison between FAT, CFAT and the VFM is also proposed.

Study on the optimal design of specimens for stiffness coefficients identification of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites by virtual fields method

Glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites are important structural materials and are widely used in structure engineering. In this study, a new V-notch non-standard tensile specimen is proposed. All the in-plane stiffness coefficients of glass fiber-reinforced polymer composites could be obtained by the virtual fields method with only one uniaxial tensile test. First, the special virtual fields method for inversion of elastic constitutive parameters of orthotropic materials in the uniaxial tensile test was introduced. The optimization of the geometrical design of the specimen was conducted using finite element simulation experiments. Batch modeling calculation was conducted within the designed range of the geometric parameters of the specimen. The generated ideal strain field data were substituted into the virtual fields method to invert and identify the stiffness coefficients. The optimized geometry of the specimen was determined according to the objective function of minimum error. Through a tensile experiment on glass fiber composites, the influence of specimen deformation on the identification results was assessed, and the load level suitable for parameter identification was determined. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the inversion identification accuracy meets the requirements of engineering measurement.

A scalable pipeline to create synthetic datasets from functional–structural plant models for deep learning

Abstract In plant science, it is an established method to obtain structural parameters of crops using image analysis. In recent years, deep learning techniques have improved the underlying processes significantly. However, since data acquisition is time and resource consuming, reliable training data are currently limited. To overcome this bottleneck, synthetic data are a promising option for not only enabling a higher order of correctness by offering more training data but also for validation of results. However, the creation of synthetic data is complex and requires extensive knowledge in Computer Graphics, Visualization and High-Performance Computing. We address this by introducing Synavis, a framework that allows users to train networks on real-time generated data. We created a pipeline that integrates realistic plant structures, simulated by the functional–structural plant model framework CPlantBox, into the game engine Unreal Engine. For this purpose, we needed to extend CPlantBox by introducing a new leaf geometrization that results in realistic leafs. All parameterized geometries of the plant are directly provided by the plant model. In the Unreal Engine, it is possible to alter the environment. WebRTC enables the streaming of the final image composition, which, in turn, can then be directly used to train deep neural networks to increase parameter robustness, for further plant trait detection and validation of original parameters. We enable user-friendly ready-to-use pipelines, providing virtual plant experiment and field visualizations, a python-binding library to access synthetic data and a ready-to-run example to train models.

A localized subdomain smoothing MMALE particle method for efficient modeling FSI problems

Fluid–structure-interaction (FSI) phenomena with multi-phase flow dynamics and structural damage commonly exist in engineering practice, which however bring great challenges to nowadays numerical FSI algorithms. A novel localized subdomain smoothing MMALE particle method (ls-ALEPM) is proposed in this paper for efficient and accurate simulations of large scale FSI problems. The MMALE method and the MPM are strongly coupled by immersing the MPM particles into the MMALE grid. In order to avoid the spurious strain induced by the mixed FSI velocity field, a decoupled stress updating scheme is proposed to update the stress of solid particles by introducing a virtual velocity field in the vicinity of FSI interface. And specifically, the highly accurate polyhedron intersection based method is employed for its remapping phase, which however is time-consuming. Thus, the localized subdomain smoothing method (LSSM) is put forward to accelerate the remapping phase which only involves the distorted regions of computational grid. The LSSM is composed of a distorted subdomain determination step and a combinated mesh smoothing step. Each iteration of the combinated mesh smoothing step consists of the modified GETMe and the weighted average method, and the transfinite interpolation method is adopted if the quality criteria is still not satisfied after prescribed maximum number of iterations. The validity and efficiency of ls-ALEPM is verified by several benchmark numerical examples and practical engineering simulations.

From simulation to reality: development of a small-scale autonomous electric vehicle for educational and research purposes

Robotics is a constantly evolving field, making it possible to perform various tasks that help people every day. Among these tasks, robot safe navigation through different environments is one of the challenges of mobile robotics. This work presents the development of a small autonomous vehicle designed for navigation using predefined coordinates. The chosen navigation strategy uses virtual vector fields that exploit an interaction of virtual attractive and repulsive forces. The proposed strategy has been validated through simulations and in real scenarios. Furthermore, this work presents the development of the physical prototype of the robot, emphasizing the practical and educational aspects of using autonomous robots, providing valuable insights and practical learning experiences in robotics and navigation.

Navigating The Digital Frontier: Innovative Pedagogies for Effective Technology Integration in Education

This paper explores the dynamic landscape of education in the digital age, where technology serves as both a challenge and an opportunity. Focusing on innovative pedagogies, the study aims to empower educators in effectively integrating technology to cultivate 21st-century skills. The proliferation of digital devices, online learning platforms, and virtual classrooms has revolutionized education, presenting challenges such as the digital divide and concerns about screen time. To address these issues, educators must adopt forward-thinking approaches. The review employs a comprehensive methodology, synthesizing literature from diverse sources. The paper outlines current trends, challenges, and opportunities in education technology, emphasizing the importance of digital literacy. It also delves into future directions, including Extended Reality, Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, and global collaborative networks. Case studies illustrate successful implementations of gamification, virtual reality field trips, and collaborative coding projects, highlighting the transformative impact on student engagement and skill development using technology. The study concludes by advocating for a student-centric, adaptive approach to technology integration, essential for preparing students for the evolving demands of the 21st century.

Successful emergency medical service training with virtual field trips using video during the COVID-19 pandemic: the Official Development Assistance Project in Uzbekistan

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw many restrictions on the provision of emergency medical service (EMS) training through actual field trips (AFTs), requiring a search for alternatives. This study aimed to assess trainees’ reactions to virtual field trips (VFTs) and determine the characteristics of instructional design for successful VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews.Methods: This study evaluated Uzbekistan trainees’ reactions to the VFT of EMS training using questionnaires in three categories: satisfaction, relevance, and engagement. Factors of satisfaction and dissatisfaction were identified through open-ended questions.Results: A total of 286 trainees responded to the survey during 15 educational sessions conducted from 2020 to 2022. The trainees’ responses to the VFT were positive. Overall mean scores were 4.65±0.49, 4.63±0.50, and 4.63±0.50 out of 5 points for satisfaction, relevance, and engagement, respectively. The trainees reported that the most interesting and helpful videos concerned the introduction of an EMS training curriculum and the observation of training facilities, such as the simulation centers of educational institutes. The leading causes of satisfaction were (1) authenticity of the VFTs, (2) easy-to-understand content, and (3) relevance to the job. The trainees suggested that Uzbek or Russian voice-overs would be better than subtitles in the video clip for focusing on VFT.Conclusion: In situations where AFTs are not available, VFTs using edited videos and expert interviews are a good alternative to EMS education. Based on these results, it is possible that AFTs could be replaced by VFTs using qualified videos with designed instructions as a distance learning method under specific conditions.

Geojournalism

Geojournalism is a growing field within environmental journalism at the intersection of both eco- and data-journalism. It is a new way to combine maps and data with traditional reporting in online platforms to provide scientific evidence for stories and narrative context for data. However, given its novelty, there appears to be little formal recognition of geojournalism in educational and academic contexts. In this paper, we review tools, techniques, and platforms that can be applied by educators and learners to investigate and report on geographic and environmental issues. We also describe examples of geojournalism (blog, radio show, infographic, photostory, and virtual field trip) resulting from collaboration between Geography and Journalism faculty and students at University of The Bahamas. We propose that geojournalism include geography researchers, educators, students, and citizen scientists sharing their knowledge and data with journalists and as well as being trained in journalism themselves. This study furthers the recognition and formalization of geojournalism in environmental communication and higher education.

Implementation of a desktop virtual reality field trip in public outreach settings

Implementation of a desktop virtual reality field trip in public outreach settings