11 Future Voices in Geoscience- Undergraduate Research Posters
This session is for two-year college and four-year college and university students presenting research posters in any subdiscipline of geosciences. Posters and presentations will be judged for awards.
Monday, 18 May 2026
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Alvarado D/E
Saving the Surface: High Resolution Photogrammetry and 3D Modeling of Carbonate Rocks to Create a 'Digital Archive'
Paper number: 11-18
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Authors
Abstract
Carbonate rocks record environmental and diagenetic histories, yet their micro- to mesoscale textures are often difficult to quantify, and the geochronological techniques used to date these rocks typically require destructive sampling. This project established a reproducible photogrammetric workflow for generating high-resolution, metrically accurate three-dimensional models of carbonate hand samples. Using Structure-from-Motion (SFM) and multiview stereo reconstruction, we created "digital twins" that preserve the geometry, scale, and textural information of individual carbonate cobble samples. The resulting models enable virtual measurement, quantitative analysis, and refined visualization of sample morphologies, affording detailed analysis of variations in surface texture. The workflow was validated through direct comparison between three-dimensional-derived metrics and physical measurements. Deliverables include a protocol and a small repository of three-dimensional, hand sample-scale, carbonate models. This project demonstrates the capability of digital geology to extend laboratory access, preserve unique samples, and support quantitative sedimentological research.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 4
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026RM-410684
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