Direct outcrop observation and data collection are key techniques in research, teaching and outreach activity in the Earth and Marine Sciences, especially in areas potentially affected by volcanic-related activity such as eruptions, caldera or flank collapse, geothermal and degassing, shallow intrusions, fracturing and faulting. The need to work, teach and communicate in a safe manner and to overcome problems with accessing dangerous and/or inaccessible areas, has prompted several new direct and indirect methods to develop in the last decade. The session will focus on new approaches and technologies for research, teaching and communication purposes in volcanic areas for onshore and offshore environments, including 3D reconstruction and visualisation, as well as Virtual Reality. The session covers, without being limited to, the following areas: i) the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV or Drone); ii) the use of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV); iii) Structure from Motion (SfM) techniques for field or underwater activity; iv) 3D reconstruction and dense cloud analysis and v) Immersive virtual reality and other innovative methods vi) examples of the practical use of methods in communication.