The AusGeol Virtual Library of Australia’s Geology is the product of a two-year project (2015–2017) funded by the Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching (which is no longer in operation) and a consortium of universities and government geoscience agencies. This virtual library provides free online access to visualisations from over 3,500 sites across the continent and to accompanying educational resources. Its well-documented examples of important geological features are designed to assist in the development of student geological field skills. The project has largely been driven by Dr Michael Roach from Earth Sciences, together with a team of collaborators from the Australian National University, University of Melbourne, University of Queensland and University of Western Australia.

Although fieldwork is a cornerstone of geological education and nothing can fully replace the experience of holding and manipulating an object or the insight gained by exploring, touching and documenting a field site, it is not possible to expose students to a fully comprehensive range of field experiences.

AusGeol delivers a range of visualisations including:

• photo-realistic 3D models derived from both terrestrial and UAV photography
• full-spherical panoramas and
• ‘deep zoom’ imagery.

Visualisations – which include photographs and descriptions – of significant localities are integrated to generate virtual tours of each particular geological feature. All visualisations are accompanied by comprehensive metadata that facilitate display and retrieval of features that meet specific keyword, stratigraphic or lithological queries. These visualisations are delivered by the AusGeol web portal (www.AusGeol.org) through an interactive map interface (Atlas tab) or by tabular selection and display (Sites tab).

Map and GIS data from external web map services can be displayed in the Atlas tab to provide context for the visualisations. 3D and full spherical panorama data can be visualised within the AusGeol site and all data are available for free download for local viewing or incorporation into other applications. AusGeol provides student activities to accompany the new visualisations and software tools, and activities are available to accredited educators via a secure login.

An important outcome of the AusGeol project has been the development of a new open-access software called GeoVis3D. GeoVis3D allows users to interact with 3D virtual models to undertake annotation, analysis and measurement of virtual outcrops. Facilities are available within GeoVis3D to measure and plot structural data, to annotate models in 3D, and to measure stratigraphic or sedimentological logs.

Funding for the AusGeol initiative finished in April 2017 and an application for additional funding through the Australian Government Citizen Science Grant scheme was unsuccessful. We are keen to continue the development of the AusGeol resource and are now seeking partner organisations and funding to continue development of the virtual library. We are seeking funding for a three-year project(2018–2021) that will:

• Improve the spatial and thematic coverage of the AusGeol database to include visualisations in large areas of the continent that currently have no data.
• Capture geological visualisations directly relevant to the exploration, minerals and energy industries. The AusGeol library currently has few objects that reflect these activities.
• Establish new mobile facilities suitable for 3D digitisation of samples from geological collections and use these to generate open-access virtual models of significant geological objects that are currently ‘hidden’ in the archives of museums, universities and government organisations. This would include mineralogical and palaeontological specimens and also selected drill core.
• Develop educational objects, tours and activities that utilise existing and new visualisations. The generation of public outreach, minerals- and energy-related content will be particular objectives.
• Continue development of the GeoVis3D software to increase its functionality and ease of use.

The AusGeol project is funded for a two-year period (February 2015 - February 2017) through an Innovation and Development Grant from the Federal Office of Learning and Teaching, with additional contributions from universities and government geoscience organisations.

The project is generating a virtual library of Australia’s Geology, with the aim of providing free virtual access to significant outcrops across the Australian continent for secondary, tertiary and professional education, as well as public outreach. The library delivers a variety of immersive visualisations including: full 3D photorealistic models, ‘deep zoom’ imagery, full spherical panoramas, 360 degree video and virtual tours of geological sites. All visualisations can be accessed and downloaded from the AusGeol.org website.

The project is also generating lesson plans, and teaching and learning objects, for tertiary and secondary education. The AusGeol database currently includes virtual objects from approximately 2000 sites across Australia.