Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center

What is the Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center?

The Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center is an educational virtual-reality experience taking place at a virtual recreation of the Proving Ground & Training Center located at the Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies at the University of Maryland: College Park. It is designed for all audiences, from young children to aspiring geoscience students. The best part? You can experience it at home right from your Meta Quest. You begin in our virtual lab, where you can learn more about CISESS and what we do. Then, you can explore a variety of educational modules we have developed, which include topics such as teaching the water cycle and how the faraday cage effect protects you during a thunderstorm.

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OuR Educational Modules

The Virtual Proving Ground & Training Center consists of several educational modules that enable users to explore a variety of geoscience-related topics. These modules consist of both virtual and mixed reality experiences, which help to demonstrate the potential of immersive technologies in education.

Faraday Cage & Lightning Safety

Have you ever wondered where the safest places are to seek shelter during a thunderstorm? This module demonstrates the Faraday cage effect and its protective capabilities. It presents an engaging mixed-reality game where you guide a virtual owl named Spark to safety by strategically placing it in various hiding spots, such as a car, beneath a tree, or on the beach. If a hiding spot is safe, Spark will express its joy by jumping up and down. However, if it’s a dangerous location, Spark will be zapped!

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Download Faraday Lightning Safety on Meta Quest

Water Cycle

Where does rain come from? How about your drinking water? Explore the fascinating journey of water through the water cycle in this interactive module. Immerse yourself in virtual environments that vividly illustrate each phase of the water cycle. Engage with informative panels scattered throughout the environment to delve deeper into each phase.

Cloud Types

Every day, you witness a breathtaking spectacle of clouds in the sky. But what sets one cloud apart from another? In this module, you’ll embark on a journey to discover a diverse range of cloud types. Not only will you learn about their characteristics, but you’ll also see a virtual sky above your head filled with the type of cloud you're learning about. Once you feel confident in your understanding of cloud types, challenge yourself with a built-in quiz to assess your knowledge and reinforce your learning.

Lightning Types

You’ve likely seen stunning photographs of lightning striking the sky, illuminating it with its radiant light. However, did you realize that not all lightning is created the same? In this module, you’ll create virtual lightning strikes as you explore different types of lightning, including positive and negative cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning, and intra-cloud (IC) lightning.

Spatial Museum

Have you ever desired to see the trucks used to chase tornadoes? At the spatial museum, we not only present a diverse collection of life-size 3D objects but also showcase 3D photographs and videos encompassing a range of subjects, from CISESS to breathtaking panoramic views of the sky.

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