This document summarizes information about Gale Crater on Mars and describes a virtual reality experience that allows users to tour the crater. Key facts about Gale Crater include that it is located on Mars, is 96 miles in diameter, and has layered mountains up to 3 miles high. The virtual tour of Gale Crater was created using a digital elevation model and high resolution images to generate interactive terrain that users can explore using VR controls on phones or fly controls on desktop.

1. Discovering Gale Crater
By: AJ Abell

2. First Things First

3. Choosing A Platform
• App?
– Unnecessary barriers of entry
– Anyone with computer can use it
• More immersive experience with Oculus/Cardboard
• All built with open Web source

4. Crater Facts
• Mars
• Layered Mountains – 3 miles high
• 96 miles in diameter
• Can go into history – any water in there?
Bacteria?

5. Pictures
• Digital elevation model of Gale Crater. Brighter
values are higher elevations.

6. Pictures
• Color image of the Gale Crater created by a
combination of images from the Viking
spacecraft and the Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter

7. Generating Terrain
• Digital Elevation Model & High Resolution
Picture
• Convert to ENVI: 65,536 height values per
pixel
• 60 fps

8. Controls
• Resolution: 300x285 for desktop
– 200x190 for phones
• Fly controls for desktop
– VR controls for phones

9. Collision Detection
• Can’t fly through ground
• Use raycasting – geometry anyone?
– Tests whether ray intersects with anything
• Invisible objects on the surface

10. Taking The Tour
• Create curves between two points as a route
– Can’t just move the camera – move backwards
along route
• Or Free Explore
– Tilt, move, fly

11. What’s Next?
• Future of journalism?
– Maybe. Devices are expensive
– Can be disorienting – slow movement
• But, lets you see almost anything