T69 Using 3-D Geological Models to Explore Geologic Processes, Assess Natural Resources and Hazards, and Meet Societal Needs

Sunday, 22 September 2024
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
304B

THE LOOP PROJECT: TOWARDS BETTER MANAGEMENT OF SUB-SURFACE RESOURCES

Paper number: T69-3
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 2:00 PM – 2:15 PM

Authors

Abstract

Developing digital-twins of our subsurface is essential to better manage our natural resources - metals, water and waste disposals. By digital twins, we mean a realistic representation of the subsurface including the estimation of relevant physical and geochemical properties at an appropriate scale - in other words: a useful series of models.

We present the current state of the Loop project, an open-source interoperable, integrative, probabilistic 3D geological modelling platform. The platform is built essentially on 3 python libraries (github.com/Loop3D)

  1. map2loop is a library that automatically extracts geological information from maps and generates parameters for the modelling library
  2. LoopStructural allows the building of structurally consistent 3D geological models based on a time-aware parameterisation of a series of event. Each event is modelled sequentially and is associated to a structural frame which put simply is defining a curvilinear coordinate system within each event-related geological object. Each structural frame consists of 3 perpendicular scalar fields that loosely represent the finite-strain ellipsoid directions of each object. The frames are fitted to structural data in 3D and then combined according to the geological history.
  3. LoopResources utilises the curvilinear coordinate systems to enable geostatistical estimation of properties throughout the entire model.

We present the concept behind the structural frames for faults, intrusions and folding events, a simplistic proof of concept of enhanced property estimation within a Loop implicit formulation of 3D geology. We will also discuss the future of the project including the development of a user-friendly web-based interface.

Acknowledgements: Loop is a OneGeology initiative, initiated by Geoscience Australia and funded by Australian Territory, State and Federal Geological Surveys, the Australian Research Council and the MinEx CRC (support from BHP, AngloAmerican and the Geological Survey of Western Australia). The project is led by Monash University and involves research groups from the University of Western Australia and the RING consortium at the Universite de Lorraine, Nancy, France. In-kind research is also provided by Natural Resources Canada (Geological Survey of Canada), Geoscience Australia and the British Geological Survey. Other partners include AuScope and the USGS.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 56, No. 5

doi: 10.1130/abs/2024AM-400611

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