Outcrop
Augmented reality geology maps for iPhone and Android
EducationFree#geology#augmented-reality#maps
Listed by the ProductPerch team from Hacker News · not launched here yet
What is Outcrop?
Outcrop is a mobile application for iPhone and Android that displays geologic maps using augmented reality. Users point their phone camera at natural landscapes, road cuts, or canyon walls to see a digital map overlaid on the real world. The app identifies the rock directly in view, labels nearby peaks and lakes, and explains how the rock formed and its age.
The app includes a timeline showing Earth’s 4.5 billion years of history, allowing users to explore Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic, and Precambrian periods. It provides stratigraphic columns to show rock layers beneath the surface, including ages, geological gaps, and fossil records. Users can also view paleomaps to see where continents were located when a specific rock formed, with animations showing plate tectonics over time.
Outcrop offers search functionality for rock types, ages, named units, and faults, highlighting matching locations on the map. Users can switch between bedrock, Quaternary deposits, active faults, and soil layers. Areas can be outlined and downloaded for offline map viewing, though fossil records and fault data still require an internet connection. The app uses data from Macrostrat, the Paleobiology Database, and OpenStreetMap, and is available for free.
Outcrop features
- Augmented reality geologic maps overlaid on live camera view
- Rock identification with formation details and age data
- Stratigraphic columns showing subsurface layers and fossils
- Paleomap globe view tracking continental drift over time
- Search tool for rock types, ages, units, and active faults
- Offline mode for downloaded map areas without signal
- Layer switching between bedrock, Quaternary deposits, and soil
Who uses Outcrop and for what
- Field geologists identifying rock formations while hiking or surveying terrain
- Students learning Earth history and stratigraphy through interactive visual tools
- Hikers and nature enthusiasts understanding local geology and landscape origins
- Teachers demonstrating plate tectonics and continental movement in classrooms
- Researchers searching for specific geological units or faults across regions
Outcrop FAQ
Is Outcrop free?
Yes, the website states that Outcrop is free on the App Store and Google Play.
Does Outcrop work offline?
Yes, you can outline an area to download it to your phone so the map and camera view work without a signal. However, fossil records and active faults still require an internet connection.
What data sources does Outcrop use?
The app uses geologic maps from Macrostrat and the Paleobiology Database, terrain from Mapterhorn, place names from OpenStreetMap, and imagery from USDA NAIP and USGS GNIS.
Can I use Outcrop on Mac or Windows?
The website does not say. Outcrop is listed as a mobile application for iOS and Android only.
How do I report errors or suggest corrections?
The website provides an email address, shane@flyovercountry.app, for questions, ideas, or corrections. It also mentions checking in at visited outcrops with Rockd to help improve the data.
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