3D Visualization and Advanced Mapping Techniques for Metamorphic Terranes

野外地质学是固体地球科学的基础，但却有一个形象问题，部分原因是野外地质学家对技术的执着，这些技术自19世纪以来几乎没有什么变化。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难以想象的复杂问题。这场正在发展的革命的关键是三维（3D）可视化能力，以及可以从高分辨率地形和覆盖在地形模型上的高分辨率摄影相结合获得的真正的3D渲染。本研究正在探索最适合使用现代现场计算机能力和软件分析复杂变质构造的新技术和工作流程。研究地点是Panamint山脉的中西部，在那里，一个变质复合体暴露在海拔从接近海平面到约10,000英尺的高度上，表面条件从极度干旱的沙漠到开放的亚高山森林中中等风化的岩石。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，并辅以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夜间练习中。随后将进行实时3D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3D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，通过碎屑锆石特征测试岩石单元相关性，以及通过有限应变研究来辅助运动学解释。该项目对所有领域的科学都有潜在的更广泛的应用和影响，有可能改变进行领域研究的方式。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适用于学术界和工业界的更广泛的实地项目。数字测绘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。迁移到真正的三维工作流应该允许解决基于平面地图工作流的不可能复杂的问题。此外，这些技术的发展具有教育应用的潜力，可以加速空间概念的学习。为了确保项目成果的广泛传播，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包括地质测绘在内的实地科学的开展方式产生深远的影响，因此对科学界具有重大价值。除了研究目标，该项目还支持德克萨斯大学埃尔帕索分校（University of Texas at El Paso）从研究生到本科生的STEM科学培训。考虑到该大学的人口结构，该项目将包括来自代表性不足群体的学生。该项目的实地研究完全在死亡谷国家公园内进行，从这项研究中得出的研究成果将为国家公园管理局提供资源，并将包括有益于公众的推广活动。

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.