Automated geological map deconstruction for 3D model construction using <i>map2loop</i> 1.0 and <i>map2model</i> 1.0

Abstract

Abstract. At a regional scale, the best predictor for the 3D geology of the near-subsurface is often the information contained in a geological map. One challenge we face is the difficulty in reproducibly preparing input data for 3D geological models. We present two libraries (map2loop and map2model) that automatically combine the information available in digital geological maps with conceptual information, including assumptions regarding the subsurface extent of faults and plutons to provide sufficient constraints to build a prototype 3D geological model. The information stored in a map falls into three categories of geometric data: positional data, such as the position of faults, intrusive, and stratigraphic contacts; gradient data, such as the dips of contacts or faults; and topological data, such as the age relationships of faults and stratigraphic units or their spatial adjacency relationships. This automation provides significant advantages: it reduces the time to first prototype models; it clearly separates the data, concepts, and interpretations; and provides a homogenous pathway to sensitivity analysis, uncertainty quantification, and value of information studies that require stochastic simulations, and thus the automation of the 3D modelling workflow from data extraction through to model construction. We use the example of the folded and faulted Hamersley Basin in Western Australia to demonstrate a complete workflow from data extraction to 3D modelling using two different open-source 3D modelling engines: GemPy and LoopStructural.

loopUI-0.1: indicators to support needs and practices in 3D geological modelling uncertainty quantification

“…It should be performed appropriately at all scales, across all geoscientific methods, such as the extraction of additional lithological data from drill hole databases (Joshi et al, 2021). To encourage uncertainty propagation among practitioners, accessible and compatible algorithms should be offered (1) to automatically extract geological data from open databases (Jessell et al, 2021) and (2) to quickly generate plausible geological models from a given dataset (Grose et al, 2021) in interaction with geophysical data integration (Giraud et al, 2021) and at an appropriate resolution (Scalzo et al, 2021). This special issue (Ailleres, 2020) already provides elements of an answer to these problems and is expected to host future advances on these topics.…”

G&M3D 1.0: an Interactive framework for 3D Model Construction and Forward Calculation of Potential Fields

“…Although significant progress has been achieved in the forward calculation of the potential fields, constructing a 3-D anomalous model that is used to test forward or inversion algorithms is usually not intuitive and cumbersome, especially building some complex irregular sources (Jessell et al, 2021). Various packages exist for the computational synthesis of different geological models (de la Varga et al, 2019;Hassanzadeh et al, 2022;Jessell et al, 2014;Jessell et al, 2021;Pirot et 60 al., 2022;Wellmann et al, 2016). However, open-source software in which we can interactively create geologic bodies and perform efficient forward calculations of their potential fields is rare.…”