UAV- and SfM-related techniques applied to volcano-tectonics for virtual outcrops construction and geoscience communication. Examples from the North Volcanic Zone, Iceland

&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;UAV- and SfM-related techniques applied to volcano-tectonics for virtual outcrops construction and geoscience communication. Examples from the North Volcanic Zone, Iceland&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;Authors:&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt; Federico Pasquar&amp;amp;#233; Mariotto&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;, Alessandro Tibaldi&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;2,3&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;1&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;Insubria University, Department of Human and Innovation Sciences&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160; &amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;amp;#160; &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;2&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;University of Milan-Bicocca, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Milan, Italy &amp;lt;sup&amp;gt;3&amp;lt;/sup&amp;gt;CRUST- Interuniversity Center for 3D Seismotectonics with Territorial Applications, Italy&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Iceland offers an unparalleled chance to observe the most powerful natural phenomena related to the combination of tectonic and magmatic forces, such as active rifting, volcanic eruptions, sub-volcanic intrusions. We have focused on a number of geosites which are found in the Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ) of Iceland; here, the following volcano-tectonic features can be observed: i) the Theystareykir&amp;amp;#160; Fissure Swarm (ThFS), an active rift system with a central volcano, several major faults and numerous eruptive fissures; ii) the Krafla Fissure Swarm (KFS), another major rift system marked by the presence of monogenetic cones, dip-slip faults, eruptive fissures, extension fractures and the active Krafla volcano.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;In order to showcase a few, outstanding examples of the above, we have made use of UAVs integrated by the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Photogrammetry. As is well known, the combination of UAV-digital image collection and SfM techniques has been increasingly applied to geological and environmental research. We have applied this approach to the collection of high-definition images and with the purpose of constructing 3-D models, which may be considered &amp;amp;#8220;Virtual Outcrops (VO)&amp;amp;#8221;.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;We highlight that such 3-D models can be navigated in immersive Virtual Reality mode, and hence can be a key tool not only for research purposes: in fact, this is a novel, cutting-edge approach which is suitable for improving geosite popularization and geoscience communication, allowing for the engagement of a wider audience, including potential end-users from the younger generation.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;strong&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#160;&amp;lt;/strong&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;