3d Geoscience information systems

This work has been carried out in cooperation with the Gocad Research Group/ ENSG Nancy. You can request the full thesis document as PDF »here; a presentation can be downloaded »here as PDF (5MB). Some developments are free available (»XAppS, GisTools).

Abstract. Two-dimensional geographical information systems are extensively used in the geosciences to create and analyse maps. However, these systems are unable to represent the Earth's subsurface in three spatial dimensions. The objective of this project is to overcome this deficiency and to provide a general framework for a 3d geoscience information system (GIS) and to contribute to the public discussion about the development of an infrastructure for geological observation data, 3d geomodels, and geoservices.
Following the objective, the requirements for a 3d GIS have been analysed. According to the requirements, new geologically sensible query functionality for geometrical, topological and geological properties has been developed and the integration of 3d geological modeling and data management system components in a generic framework has been accomplished. The new 3d geoscience information system framework is characterized by the following features:

• Storage of geological observation data and geomodels in a XML-database server. According to a new data model, geological observation data can be referenced by a set of geomodels.
• Functionality for querying observation data and 3d geomodels based on their 3d geometrical, topological, material, and geological properties were developed and implemented as plug-in for a 3d geomodeling user application.
• For database queries, the standard XML query language has been extended with 3d spatial operators. The spatial database query operations are computed using a XML application server which has been developed for this specific purpose. This technology allows sophisticated 3d spatial and geological database queries.

Using the developed methods, queries can be answered like: "Select all sandstone horizons which are intersected by the set of faults F". This request contains a topological and a geological material parameter. The combination of queries with other GIS methods, like visual and statistical analysis, allows geoscience investigations in a novel 3d GIS environment.
More generally, a 3d GIS enables geologists to read and understand a 3d digital geomodel analogously as they read a conventional 2d geological map.

© Marcus Apel