Jezero Virtual Hiking Map

Direct link to the application: https://maps.planet.fu-berlin.de/jezero

Introduction

The Jezero Hiking Map is an interactive web map with embedded Points of Interest (POIs) designed to bring the Martian landscape explored by NASA's Perseverance rover to researchers and the public. The system combines precise geographic mapping with immersive visualization capabilities to create a virtual exploration experience. One of the key POI layers consists of Mastcam-Z 360° panoramas that can be viewed either in a web browser or using a virtual reality (VR) device. These panoramas, captured by the rover's stereo camera system, provide unprecedented visual detail of the Martian surface. The interactive experience allows users to dynamically explore the panoramas, including pixel-level zooming capabilities that enable examination of subtle geological features and textures. When using a VR device, the panoramas are displayed in stereo, creating an enhanced sense of depth and immersion that closely mimics the experience of standing on the Martian surface. By integrating these panoramas with the map, they are spatially anchored and provide a clear geographic context, allowing users to understand both the specific details visible in each panorama and their relationship to the broader Jezero Crater landscape. This multi-scale approach bridges the gap between macro-level geographic understanding and micro-level feature examination, creating a powerful tool for both scientific analysis and public engagement.

Technical Foundation

The Jezero Virtual Hiking Map employs a hybrid architecture that combines OpenLayers for the base mapping functionality with the krpano panorama viewer for immersive 360° experiences. This integration creates a seamless workflow where OpenLayers provides the primary web map interface, handling the base map rendering of Jezero Crater topography, management of multiple data layers including geological and topographical information, navigation controls and spatial reference system management, as well as POI placement and visualization. The krpano library is used to render and interact with the high-resolution Mastcam-Z panoramas when users select a panorama POI from the map. This specialized panorama viewer offers support for extremely high-resolution panoramic images, multi-resolution loading for optimal performance, smooth navigation and pixel-level zoom capabilities, and stereoscopic rendering for VR devices.

Data Processing and Integration

Each panorama POI on the OpenLayers map represents a specific location where the Perseverance rover captured Mastcam-Z imagery. When a user selects one of these POIs, the application loads the corresponding krpano scene configuration, initializes the panorama viewer in a dedicated viewport, positions the initial view direction to maintain geographic context, and provides controls for navigation back to the main map. This approach allows for efficient data management, as the high-resolution panorama data is only loaded when requested, while the OpenLayers map maintains a lightweight overview of all available panorama locations. The tool provides direct link access to the individual panoramas. The REST-based URL format uses "360" for the collection, followed by the panorama ID matching the official Mastcam-Z site. Example: https://maps.planet.fu-berlin.de/jezero/360/52 (Vingeanne mosaic).

Future Development

As the Perseverance mission continues, several potential enhancements could expand the capabilities and utility of the Jezero Virtual Hiking Map. Planned enhancements include the integration of both enhanced color and natural color panoramas, allowing users to toggle between scientifically-calibrated color renderings and processed views that optimize visual interpretation of geological features. The incorporation of Mastcam-Z strategic mosaics would complement the existing 360° panoramas by providing high-resolution stereo imagery of targeted areas of interest, available in both enhanced and natural color, though covering smaller fields of view focused on specific geological features. Additionally, 3D digital outcrop models derived from stereo imaging and structure-from-motion techniques could enable detailed morphological analysis of rock formations and sedimentary structures. Interactive measurement tools would allow researchers to determine distances, angles, and dimensions directly within the panoramic views, facilitating quantitative analysis of geological features without requiring specialized software. These additions would further bridge the gap between qualitative visual exploration and rigorous scientific measurement, making the platform an increasingly powerful resource for both research and education as our understanding of the Martian surface continues to advance.

Acknowledgements

This work is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) through the German Space Agency at DLR on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag (Funding code: 50 OO 2601).