Last year we had a very successful project with the War Eagle Caverns park and their general manager, Mr. Guy Schivonie. We used photogrammetry to scan the cave and create a 3D environment while also providing measurements to show if the cave was sloped enough and wide enough to be ADA wheelchair accessible. This project won EAST Project of the Year at the 2023 EAST Conference.
We decided to take our 3D model to the next level. We wanted to be able to host our model on their webpage so that guests could view the model from home, at school, or on a mobile device. To take it even further, we found out how to put our 3D mesh online so that it could be viewed using VR technology like the Oculus Quest. Reality Capture makes this pretty easy with the use of SketchFab, a web hosting software that allows us to embed the 3D models of the cave directly into their website. SketchFab also lets us utilize their VR tools so that we can export our models to be viewed on different VR tools. For Google Cardboard, it’s the easiest…we just click the link on SketchFab on a mobile device and you’re all set. To view it on Oculus Quest, it’s a little tricky because we have to use a 3rd party software called OpenXR, but as long as we’re using a newer version of Google Chrome it’s no problem. We’ve even been able to view our cave using Classroom VR in our 21st CCLC after school program, SLA: Sonora Learning Academy.
Reality Capture makes this pretty easy with the use of SketchFab, a web hosting software that allows us to embed the 3D models of the cave directly into their website. SketchFab also lets us utilize their VR tools so that we can export our models to be viewed on different VR tools. For Google Cardboard, it’s the easiest…we just click the link on SketchFab on a mobile device and you’re all set. To view it on Oculus Quest, it’s a little tricky because we have to use a 3rd party software called OpenXR, but as long as we’re using a newer version of Google Chrome it’s no problem. We’ve even been able to view our cave using Classroom VR in our 21st CCLC after school program, SLA: Sonora Learning Academy.
Solution: We’re continuing to learn and grow with our cave mapping project. This year will allow students in school all across the area, visit the War Eagle Caverns right from their very own classroom. Things have changed in school…we don't take field trips anymore, so this is a powerful solution to being stuck in school all day.