Basic Questions re GeoModeller
DCoblentz
I'm evaluating whether GeoModeller would be appropriate for our needs
-- a couple of questions come to mind:
1. Are there any memory/size limitations? How large can the model
be? What kind of resolution is possible?
2. Ultimately, we need to get meshable volumes out of our models - can
surfaces and/or volumes be readily exported out of GeoModeller?
Thanks to any who can pass along answers to these questions.
David
Philip McInerney
1. GeoModeller can be applied to any scale of geologic problem.
From prospect scale in mining, or shallow engineering geology
problems
Through regional geology projects on a scale of tens of kilometres
Through oil basin projects on a scales of several hundred kilometres
Through to crustal scale models to depths of tens to hundreds of
kilometres
There is no 'actual' limitation re size.
From a practical viewpoint, however, we tend to build models using
data that are relevant to the scale of the project.
Just as in producing a map ...
- you show more detail on a 1:5,000 scale 'detailed' map
- and you use less of the detail on a 1:250,000 scale 'regional' map
In a similar manner - we do not add lots of detail when constructing
a regional model in GeoModeller.
- the reason for doing this?
... mainly because a GeoModeller model is a model which can
evolve with time ...
- it is not 'fixed' ... but rather it is possible to add new data
...
- as new data become available
- or as your geological interpretive ideas change ...
- you add new data ... and can re-compute to generate a revised
model using your new data
- this re-computation - and re-plotting of sections - and
re-building of 3D shapes - typically is done quite quickly
- the impact of 'too much' detail is simply that the
re-compuation / re-plotting is made slower - for no additional benefit.
How do we model 'the detail'? ... we would build a local-scale,
more focused - and detailed - model of the target area of interest.
By the way, people who've built 3D models using old fashioned and
CAD-style software tend to groan at the thought of 'building another
model'.
Models are built much more easily in GeoModeller!
You ask 'what resolution'?
The essence of the answer is in the above.
With a regional scale model you view the geological structures on a
scale of, say, hundreds of metres through to kilometres.
Naturally there is a spectrum of practical 'scales of resolution'
within any model ...
But if you need to achieve higher resolution, more detail ... one
builds a focussed model - using more detailed data - with smaller
project dimensions.
2. Yes. 'surfaces' and 'volumes' can be generated.
These are 'wireframe' surfaces, formed using triangles as faces.
These are visualised in the 3D-Viewer - as 'wireframes' and 'shaded'
surfaces or bodies.
And can be exported.
At the moment our export format is GoCAD's T-Surf format.
This is an ASCII file format, with a 'public' file description.
Best regards,
Phil McInerney
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Philip McInerney
Consulting Geophysicist
GeoIntrepid / Intrepid Geophysics
Unit 2, 1 Male Street, Brighton
Vic 3186 AUSTRALIA
Phn +61 (0)3 9593-1077
Fax +61 (0)3 9592-4142
Mobile +61 (0)423 109-506
Email ph...@intrepid-geophysics.com
Web www.intrepid-geophysics.com
www.geomodeller.com
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