About
Imperial College London is a leading global university specializing in science, engineering, medicine, and business.
The Challenge
Pandemic restrictions made essential geology field trips impossible, disrupting student learning and threatening critical skill development.
Imperial College London’s earth science faculty faced a fundamental challenge: COVID-19 meant geology students could no longer access the real-world environments central to their education. Field trips, often totaling 100 days across a degree program, are critical for developing observational and analytical skills. Without access to outdoor sites, students risked losing opportunities to practice techniques like sketching rock formations, measuring structures, and interpreting geological data. Faculty leaders needed a digital solution that could replicate these experiences and maintain collaborative learning in a remote environment.
The Solution
A Toptal developer built and refined a custom Unity platform with integrated collaboration tools under tight deadlines.
To realize their vision, Imperial College faculty partnered with a Toptal developer—an experienced game architect—who quickly assessed the existing prototype, reorganized priorities, and began refactoring the code to launch the platform before the start of the new semester. Over three months, Toptal integrated Agora middleware for voice and video, built collaborative “fieldwork” functionality, and redesigned the user interface to align with Imperial’s branding. His contributions created a secure, polished platform capable of hosting large student groups in immersive 3D environments.
The Outcome
The virtual platform enabled uninterrupted teaching, expanded access to remote sites, and strengthened long-term learning opportunities.
The new system allowed 200-300 students to join simultaneous sessions without disruptions, giving them collaborative fieldwork experiences despite lockdowns. Faculty reported that lessons ran more smoothly than in many other earth science programs, allowing students to continue developing essential skills. Beyond the pandemic, Imperial College plans to integrate the platform permanently. The system enables access to rare or inaccessible sites, such as restricted locations or even planetary surfaces, offering long-term educational benefits far beyond what traditional field trips alone can provide.