3D Visualization and Advanced Mapping Techniques for Metamorphic Terranes

野外地质学是固体地球科学的基础，但存在一个形象问题，这在一定程度上源于野外地质学家执着于自19世纪以来几乎没有变化的技术和技术。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，这些技术不仅提高了野外工作效率，还允许地球科学家分析过去复杂得不可能的问题。这场发展中的革命的关键是三维(3D)可视化能力，以及真正的3D渲染，可以通过覆盖在地形模型上的高分辨率地形和高分辨率摄影的组合获得。这项研究正在探索最适合利用现代野外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山脉中西部，在那里暴露出一个变质杂岩，海拔从近海平面到约10,000英尺，地表条件从极度干旱的沙漠到开阔的亚高山森林中的中等风化岩石。这项研究正在评估不同的外业工作流程，首先是使用地理信息系统(GIS)外业软件的传统测绘技术的变体，其次是使用激光测距设备提高位置精度，将3D可视化限制在与数据备份和清理相关的晚间练习。随后将在使用地面激光扫描仪初步开发高分辨率数字高程模型(DEM)的基础上进行实时3D现场可视化试验，并在实地完成实时3D可视化。协同活动包括使用U-Pb地质年代学来限制变形事件的绝对年龄，通过碎屑锆石特征测试岩石单位相关性，以及进行有限应变研究以帮助运动学解释。该项目可能对所有实地科学产生更广泛的应用和影响，有可能改变进行实地研究的方式。尽管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，但当代的方法是以平面地图为中心的三维世界。转移到真正的三维工作流应该可以解决基于平面地图工作流的复杂到令人难以置信的问题。此外，这些技术的发展带来了教育应用，有可能加速学习空间概念。为确保广泛传播项目成果，国际和平研究所每年举办一次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，这项研究将产生的研究产品将为国家公园管理局提供资源，并将包括惠及普通公众的外联活动。

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.