Background

This project will focus on developing a VR-based platform that uses Gaussian splat technology to communicate the diversity of soils and their environmental contexts. The purpose is to provide researchers, students, and the public with an interactive experience that goes beyond conventional soil science communication methods such as descriptions, photographs, videos, or monoliths.  

Objective

The team would like to develop a prototype with three core components: the integration of soil pit models reconstructed through Gaussian splats, VR navigation that allows users to move through and view soil pits from multiple perspectives, and a user interface that enables seamless exploration between soil pits and associated contexts. The goal is to create an accessible and engaging VR experience where users can explore soils and their ecological/land management histories.

The Team

Principal Investigator

• Dr. Maja Krzic, Professor, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences

Subject Matter Expert

• Amy Wells, Graduate Student, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences

Student Team

• Kieran Crichton-Stewart, Developer (September 2025 – April 2026)
• Riddhima Gupta, Project Lead, Developer (September 2025 – April 2026)
• Kai Zhang, Developer (September 2025 – April 2026)
• James Edralin, Developer (September 2025 – April 2026)
• Amy Yiqin Li, UI/UX Designer (September 2025 – April 2026)