Enhancing Geotechnical Engineering Education Based on Multiphysics Enriched Mixed Reality Game

Abstract

This study introduces the development of the multiphysics enriched mixed reality for integrated geotechnical education (MERGE) platform. This platform combines geotechnical learning with visualization, collaboration, and numerical simulation. To stimulate engineering creativity and study interest of students, the gameplay is story-based and task-based. Through exploring the virtual environment and finishing game tasks, students can obtain different testing tools used for geotechnical experiments (e.g., thermal conductivity measurement and direct shear test). Students can be trained from these laboratory experiments to have a better understanding of fundamental soil mechanics principles (e.g., thermal conductivity and shear strength of soil). Thereafter, the measured geotechnical properties are used as input parameters in the finite element method (FEM) simulation of geothermal piles. Furthermore, several mini-games (e.g., word searches, dig dug, spot difference, connect dots, and snake game) have been designed to provide background information and encourage students to play this game. This platform has been tested by students and has received feedback from students this semester. The key contribution of this work is to illustrate an educational paradigm based on the mixed reality: toward creative engineering education in geotechnical engineering.