CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE INCORPORATION OF SURFICIAL GEOLOGIC MAPS INTO 3-DIMENSIONAL GEOLOGIC MODELS

Traditional 2-D surficial geologic maps can provide much useful information when producing 3-D geologic or hydrologic models. However, due to modeling constraints such as grid-cell size, much of the information found on surficial geologic maps may be lost within the 3-D model. The conversion of a vector geologic map to a raster-based format can give the modeler and/or mapper insight as to how the geology may be portrayed in a geologic model. For example, certain geologic units may be too small or discontinuous over the mapped area. This analysis may provide the geologist input as to which geologic units found on the surficial map may be effectively modeled. Additionally, analysis of the raster-based geologic map may provide information for input to 3-D hydrogeologic models.