3D Visualization and Advanced Mapping Techniques for Metamorphic Terranes

变质地体的 3D 可视化和先进测绘技术

• 批准号: 1250388
• 负责人: Terry Pavlis
• 金额: $ 22.35万
• 依托单位: University of Texas at El Paso
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-02-01 至 2018-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1250388&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: 3D; Visualization; Advanced; Mapping; Techniques

Field geology is the foundation of the solid earth sciences but suffers from an image problem that stems in part from field geologists clinging to techniques and technology that have seen little change since the 19th century. Field geology is at the beginnings of a revolution, however, with the advent of new technologies that not only increase field efficiency but allow earth scientists to analyze problems that were impossibly complex in the past. Key to this developing revolution are three-dimensional (3D) visualization capabilities, and true 3D renderings that can be obtained from combinations of high resolution topography and high resolution photography draped on the terrain model. This study is exploring new techniques and workflows that are best suited to analyzing complex metamorphic structures using modern field computer capabilities and software. The study site is the west-central Panamint Mountains where a metamorphic complex is exposed over elevations ranging from near sea level to ~10,000 feet and surface conditions ranging from hyper-arid desert to moderately weathered rocks in open, sub-alpine forest. The study is evaluating different field workflows, beginning with a variant on conventional mapping techniques using Geographic Information System (GIS) field software supplemented with improved positional accuracy using laser ranging devices, limiting 3D visualization to an evening exercise tied to data backup and cleanup. This will be followed by experimentation with real-time, 3D field visualizations based on initial development of a high resolution digital elevation model (DEM) using a terrestrial laser scanner and completed with a real-time, in the field, 3D visualizations. Synergistic activities include using U-Pb geochronology to constrain the absolute age of deformation events, testing rock unit correlations through detrital zircon signature, and finite strain studies to aid kinematic interpretations. This project has potential broader applications and implications for all field sciences with the potential to transform the way in which field studies are conducted. Although the project focus is on complex geologic structure, the techniques developed in the study will be exportable to a wider range of field projects in academia and industry. Digital mapping techniques are already seeing widespread application in a variety of fields but the present generations of methods are flat-map centric in a three-dimensional world. Moving to a true three-dimensional workflow should allow resolution of problems there were impossibly complex based on a flat-map workflow. Moreover, development of these techniques carries educational applications with the potential to allow accelerated learning of spatial concepts. To insure wide dissemination of project results the PI is conducting annual short courses in modern field techniques. The results of this study have the potential to profoundly impact that manner in which field sciences, including geologic mapping, are conducted and will thus be of significant value to the scientific community. In addition to the research goals, the project is supporting the training of students in STEM science at the graduate to undergraduate level at the University of Texas at El Paso. Given the university's demographics, the project will include students from underrepresented groups. The field studies in this project are entirely within Death Valley National Park, and the research products that will derive from this study will provide a resource for the National Park Service and will include outreach activities that will benefit the general public.

野外地质学是固体地球科学的基础，但存在形象问题，部分原因是野外地质学家坚持采用自19世纪以来几乎没有变化的技术。 然而，随着新技术的出现，野外地质学正处于一场革命的开端，这些新技术不仅提高了野外工作效率，而且使地球科学家能够分析过去不可能复杂的问题。 这一发展革命的关键是三维（3D）可视化功能，以及可以从高分辨率地形和高分辨率摄影叠加在地形模型上的组合中获得的真实3D渲染。 这项研究正在探索最适合使用现代现场计算机功能和软件分析复杂变质结构的新技术和工作流程。研究地点位于帕纳明特山脉的中西部，在那里，变质杂岩暴露在从近海平面到约10，000英尺的海拔高度上，表面条件从超干旱沙漠到开放的亚高山森林中的中度风化岩石。 该研究正在评估不同的现场工作流程，首先是使用地理信息系统（GIS）现场软件的传统制图技术的变体，并使用激光测距设备提高定位精度，将3D可视化限制在与数据备份和清理相关的晚间练习中。 随后将进行实时三维现场可视化实验，该实验基于使用地面激光扫描仪初步开发的高分辨率数字高程模型（DEM），并在现场完成实时三维可视化。 协同活动包括使用U-Pb地质年代学来约束变形事件的绝对年龄，通过碎屑锆石签名测试岩石单元的相关性，以及有限应变研究来辅助运动学解释。 该项目具有潜在的更广泛的应用和所有领域的科学与潜在的影响，以改变进行实地研究的方式。 虽然该项目的重点是复杂的地质结构，但研究中开发的技术将可用于学术界和工业界更广泛的实地项目。 数字制图技术已经在各个领域得到了广泛的应用，但目前的方法都是以三维世界的平面地图为中心的。 移动到一个真正的三维工作流程应该允许解决的问题有不可能复杂的基础上平面图的工作流程。 此外，这些技术的发展进行了教育应用的潜力，使加速学习空间概念。为确保广泛传播项目成果，PI每年举办现代实地技术短期课程。 这项研究的结果有可能对实地科学，包括地质测绘的开展方式产生深刻影响，因此对科学界具有重大价值。 除了研究目标外，该项目还支持德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校研究生到本科生阶段的STEM科学学生培训。考虑到大学的人口统计数据，该项目将包括来自代表性不足群体的学生。 本项目的实地研究完全在死亡谷国家公园内进行，从本研究中得出的研究成果将为国家公园服务处提供资源，并将包括有益于公众的推广活动。