You had to be there: Landscape archaeology using GIS and VR L. Jesse Rouse Dept of Geology and Geography West Virginia University

Introduction “Being in the moment”, to take in one’s surroundings Objective goals of science? Subjective approaches more representative? Phenomenology –Husserl, early 1900s –Monte-Perleau, Heidegger

Phenomenology Understanding based on individual experience Change in understanding as experience grows Move beyond an impartial observer to an active participant (emic vs etic)

GIS Shift back towards objective, empirical Mostly due to underlying framework and methodology GIScience pushes for a more critical approach

Phenomenology, GIS, and VR Attempts to join in landscape research –Mostly implicit Difficult to ‘experience’ through 2D/Static Extend GIS interface through Virtual Reality –Immersive and dynamic interface Heidegger’s “Being-in-the-world”

Gillings and Goodrick, 1996 “Sensuous and Reflexive GIS” Use GIS to understand place and contextualization of data Use the senses to better interpret information –Visualization –Audio, Haptics, Smell, Taste Linked issues –Multiple realities –Link qualitative and quantitative information –Retain reflexivity based on senses

Experiential Reconstruction/recreation of ‘life-like’ virtual world –Create a prehistoric setting to view a relict landscape React and interact with virtual landscape –View different perspectives/change perspectives

Templewood Kilmartin Valley

Immersive VR can place the user “in” the landscape –Can step ‘through the looking glass’ Offers the opportunity to experience and move through the landscape –Individual can control navigation, just as in ‘real’ world

Conclusion Integration of GIS and VR to support subjective research Phenomenology offers a subjective approach –Less detached, experiential Immersive technologies can insinuate the researchers within the research –“Being-in-the-world”

Thanks go to: WV Tech Center Staff Dept of Geology and Geography Eberly College of Arts & Science WVView.org Laboratory of Geographic Information Science Natural Resource Analysis Center

Special thanks go to: Dr. Keith Clarke Dr. Duane Nellis Dr. Greg Elmes Nichole Edwards

Tuesday’s events will begin at 8:15AM in Room G21, White Hall Free parking on Tuesday only in Lot 1 –Directly across the street from White Hall Please take a moment to fill out the survey located in your folder Thank you all for coming! We hope you enjoyed today’s sessions.