A Proposal for how to Build Large-Scale 3D Geological Models without Using Map Projections.

Björn Zehner. ( 2015 )
in: 35th Gocad Meeting - 2015 RING Meeting, ASGA

Abstract

3D modelling is applied with increasing frequency to large-scale regional models, sometimes spanning whole countries, and most of these models are constructed on the basis of coordinate systems that are based on map projections. When these kinds of model need to be connected to generate transnational models and the corresponding data are to be used jointly, the handling of the projections becomes laborious and the representation of the model becomes distorted. However, the reason why map projections are used during the 3D modelling process is primarily that they provide a way of transforming the geographical data situated along the earth’s surface into data in a Cartesian coordinate system. We present a concept that demonstrates how a commercial 3D modelling software, namely Gocad, could be employed to use data given in geographical coordinates for generating the model directly on the earth’s surface. In this way, in theory, models could be generated that span whole continents or even the whole world without encountering problems such as distortion.

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BibTeX Reference

@inproceedings{ZehnerGM2015,
 abstract = { 3D modelling is applied with increasing frequency to large-scale regional models, sometimes spanning whole countries, and most of these models are constructed on the basis of coordinate systems that are based on map projections. When these kinds of model need to be connected to generate transnational models and the corresponding data are to be used jointly, the handling of the projections becomes laborious and the representation of the model becomes distorted. However, the reason why map projections are used during the 3D modelling process is primarily that they provide a way of transforming the geographical data situated along the earth’s surface into data in a Cartesian coordinate system. We present a concept that demonstrates how a commercial 3D modelling software, namely Gocad, could be employed to use data given in geographical coordinates for generating the model directly on the earth’s surface. In this way, in theory, models could be generated that span whole continents or even the whole world without encountering problems such as distortion. },
 author = { Zehner, Björn },
 booktitle = { 35th Gocad Meeting - 2015 RING Meeting },
 publisher = { ASGA },
 title = { A Proposal for how to Build Large-Scale 3D Geological Models without Using Map Projections. },
 year = { 2015 }
}