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Virtual reality is a technological development that, among others, has revolutionized Earth sciences. Its advantages include an opportunity to examine places otherwise difficult or impossible to access and it may also become an important component of education, fostering a better understanding of processes and landforms, geohazard awareness, and an appreciation of geoheritage. This paper reports on the GeoVT project, which aims to create a platform to build and disseminate Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) focused on geomorphology, natural hazards associated with geomorphological processes, and geoheritage sites. To put the GeoVT project in context, an overview of applications of VR in geosciences is provided. This paper subsequently proceeds with a presentation of the project and the GeoVT Authoring application, which is an innovative platform designed to help teachers and students, followed by brief presentations of a number of VFTs developed within the project. They address themes such as fluvial landforms and valley development, coastal landforms, evidence of past glaciation, coastal erosion, wildfire effects, mud volcanoes, and landslides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a 4-year study carried out on the so-called Vaches Noires cliffs (VNCs), in Normandy, France, between April 2016 and January 2019. The VNCs are badlands facing the Channel sea, with Cretaceous to Jurassic formations. They are subject to strong erosion processes already described by former works. This study aims to gain greater insight into the erosion phenomena with the help of aerial surveys supported by geophysical imaging. For this purpose, Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were established using photogrammetry applied to dozens of photos taken by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI) was implemented according to profiles that were both transverse and parallel to the coastline, (i) from the top to bottom of the cliffs, (ii) as well as at the toe of the crests and on the beach. The main outcome is a global methodology to properly perform these methods and to combine all the results in a 3D environment using free software. This methodology was validated according to a 1-year experiment based on the comparison of two DEMs, then extended to a 4-year diachronic approach. Moreover, volumes of eroded and deposited materials were assessed in specific, morphodynamic areas of the cliffs. The ERI results were used to carry out thickness assessments of the layers involved in the erosion process, and served to clarify the local geology; however, their interpretation remains limited by the lack of a priori information, and underlines the need to carry out inversion processes via a 3D approach in a particularly complex topography. In conclusion, this work provides effective tools to anticipate the risks that threaten coastal habitats and infrastructures, and represents a solid basis for further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial accessibility to health services is a key factor in terms of public health. Even though some tools are available, establishing accessibility criteria applicable from one geographic scale to another remains difficult. Therefore, we propose a method for creating a health accessibility index applicable on a large geographic scale, based on a methodology that overcomes the limitations of political-administrative divisions and which allows a multi-scalar approach to be implemented. The index highlights, on a national scale, areas of cumulative health disadvantages. This index of accessibility to health care combines accessibility and availability and can be adapted to many geographical scales. As accessibility can be understood in various dimensions, a score could be calculated for various fields such as education and culture. The index can help policymakers to identify under-endowed areas and find optimal locations. In terms of public health, it may be used to understand the mechanisms underlying geographic health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In France, since many years, road safety is highlighted as a main issue. Nevertheless, this problematic is not yet really taken into account by public policies. This research assumes that territory products a structural effect on shapes, intensities and processes of road circulations which builds and locates recurring risks situations too. This question is observed from a complex-thinking point of view, so that it implies to integrate empirical knowledges of field experts (stakeholders) with hypothetico-deductive thinking ways of researchers. A mixed approach is then elaborated and generates a software GIS based application (CRITERE 1.0). The aim is to facilitate global knowledge evolution and concertation about road risks and road safety situations, at their different space-time scales. The basic principle of the analysis process resides in the enrichment of both knowledges through mutual experts/researchers validations. An example given of the capabilities of this approach focuses identification of crucial zonings upon vulnerable users (pedestrians and bikers) in Lille LMCU territory (France). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]