Integrating virtual reality and GIS tools for geological mapping, data collection and analysis: an example from Metaxa Mine, Santorini (Greece)

In the present work we highlight the effectiveness of integrating different techniques and tools for better surveying, mapping and collecting data in volcanic areas. We use an Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) approach for data collection, integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis in a well-known volcanological site in Santorini (Metaxa mine), a site where volcanic processes influenced the island’s industrial development, especially with regard to pumice mining. Specifically, we have focused on: (i) three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution IVR scenario building, based on Structure from Motion photogrammetry (SfM) modeling; (ii) subsequent geological survey, mapping and data collection using IVR; (iii) data analysis, e.g., calculation of extracted volumes, as well as production of new maps in a GIS environment using input data directly from the IVR survey; and finally, (iv) presentation of new outcomes that highlight the importance of the Metaxa Mine as a key geological and volcanological geosite

Making Smart Cities Resilient to Climate Change by Mitigating Natural Hazard Impacts

Climate change is undoubtedly a big issue due to its devastating consequences. The enhanced resilience to natural hazards due to climate change belongs to the concept of smart cities. This Editorial proposes different uses of Geographic Information Systems to handle and disseminate data for natural disasters. Data are gathered from various data sources and are processed and visualized in maps using apps. These apps are available through the Internet or mobile devices and can be used to inform and train the stakeholders of disaster-prone areas in order to mitigate the impacts of disasters

Nisyros Volcanic Island: A Geosite through a Tailored GIS Story

The volcanic island of Nisyros (Greece) is here presented as it presents unique characteristics being a Quaternary volcano in the eastern Aegean Sea, composed of volcanic rocks, and featuring a central caldera that is surrounded by volcanic domes and thick lavas. Its history is strongly connected to the volcano impressing the visitors with steaming hydrothermal craters, intensive smell of sulfur and fumarolic gases, and hot springs. Due to its morphology and geographical position, its cultural and historical heritage has been unchanged in time, bequeath to the island plenty of churches, monasteries with hagiographic frescoes, castles, caves, and spas. To present the geodiversity, the cultural environment, and the biodiversity of this geosite, a relatively new geographic approach was used, ESRI Story Maps. Being web-based applications, they are widespread as an interactive responsive tool used for spatial data communication and dissemination, by combining thematic 2D and 3D webmaps, narrative text, and multimedia content. Such applications can be an ideal way for presenting the available information of places characterized as geosites or protected areas worldwide, providing quick access to the available information to a broader, non-technical audience, developing the interest, and possibly motivating the public to learn more or visit them

Corinth Gulf Story Map: Enhancing Public Awareness in Natural and Anthropogenic Environment using Interactive GIS Applications

Story maps are widespread as an interactive tool used for science and spatial data communication, information and dissemination. A web-based application using story mapping technology is presented here to highlight places of interest around Corinth Gulf (Greece), a new addition in Natura 2000 areas. A tailored story map that combines thematic webmaps and scenes (3D webmaps) generated through a Geographic Information System (GIS) having a great impact on web-based visual presentations with narrative text and multimedia content was created to highlight the geological and cultural environment of the area around Corinth Gulf

Selfie Drones for 3D Modelling, Geological Mapping and Data Collection: Key Examples from Santorini Volcanic Complex, Greece

In the present work, we tested the use of selfie drones as a tool for 3D modeling, geological mapping, and data collection. The model we used is a 0.300-kg multirotor quadcopter being equipped with a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor capable of capturing 12 Megapixel pictures, attached to a 2-axis mechanical gimble and with approximately 16 minutes of flight time. Test sites are located in Santorini and are characterised by different settings: i) the 1570-1573 AD volcanic crater area, in Nea Kameni island, has a mostly horizontal topography; ii) the outcrop along Vlychada beach, showing layers of the Late Bronze Age (also well-known as Minoan) eruption, has mostly vertical topography. By applying the Structure from Motion techniques to pictures collected using the selfie drone, we were capable of: i) reconstructing the two sites with centimetric to sub-centimetric resolution; ii) recognizing geological features on very high-resolution Digital Surface Models and Ortomosaics; iii) mapping vertical cliffs made up of volcanic deposits on 3D Digital Outcrops Models; iv) collect new quantitative data for both sites

The Story Map for Metaxa Mine (Santorini, Greece): A Unique Site Where History and Volcanology Meet Each Other

Story maps are widespread as an interactive tool used for science and spatial data communication, information and dissemination. A Web-based application using story mapping technology is here presented to show the historical importance of Metaxa Mine, known also as Mavormatis mine. This mine is characterized by the presence of several key outcrops where the pumice layers of the Late Bronze Age (Minoan) eruption are very well exposed. We made up a tailored story map that combines maps, narrative texts, multimedia content and a brand-new 3D model. Its purpose is to highlight the visualisation and the exploitation of Metaxa Mine as a unique “geotope” of Santorini volcano, to enable users to interact with data and maps, texts and images, and to inform academic and non-academic audience about the historical and volcanological aspects of this geological site. The spatial and geological data of this story map involve thematic maps entirely created by a Geographic Information System