Application of Modern Technologies in Popularization of the Czech Volcanic Geoheritage

Four volcanic geoheritage sites in the Czech Republic were selected to showcase new technologies for communicating the recent results of scientific research to a wider nonprofessional public. The selected volcanic sites are scoria cones with late intrusive plugs, phonolite lava-dome erupted within a maar crater, phonolite laccolith, and a nested group of monogenetic volcanoes of Oligocene to Miocene age. The available scientific results from each volcanic site were summarized and transformed into images (playscreen) used for the 3D animation. The identical sources used for 3D animations were also used for generation of virtual models of augmented reality. The outcomes were tested on school children, and the results indicate that the modern methods applied in popularization of volcanic geoheritage are highly attractive for the youngest generation and have a potential to bring more interest in Earth Sciences. Using such techniques makes the communication of geoheritage to the public more effective.