WHAT YOU SEE DEPENDS ON HOW YOU LOOK: INTERPRETING COMPLEX DATA WITH 3-DIMENSIONAL MODELING

Geoscience data are commonly three-dimensional (3-D), although our products, illustrations, interpretations, and explanations are typically two-dimensional due to publishing limitations. Advances in 3-D technologies let us both view and interact with our data, interpretations, and products in three dimensions and in “real time”. In addition, the cost of these technologies has dropped so that we can provide many of these capabilities with our interpretations and products. Interactive products are versatile and allow audiences to choose views of data or interpretations, as well as the ability to overlay and view their own data sets with models produced by others. Viewing and manipulating data in a 3-D environment is easier and quicker than browsing through tables and graphs and leads to a better understanding of the data and relationships with supporting data in the model. Audiences that can see and interact with data or interpretations are more likely to have an intuitive understanding of the model than when presented with written or verbal explanations. The ability to create surface or property models quickly with different types of geoscience information, such as electromagnetic surveys or geologic contacts from field mapping efforts, allows collaborators to see variations or compatibilities. Viewing different data in this fashion makes it easier to compare one type of data against another or to validate one data set with another, which makes for a more integrated project. Current U. S. Geological Survey projects are multi-disciplinary and require integration of different types of geoscience data, such as geophysical, geochemical, ground-water-flow, or drill-hole data. It is critical that we have a common understanding of the “ways” and “whys” of using 3-D technologies to explore geoscience issues. A foundation in 3-D modeling makes it easier to integrate different geoscience data; provides versatile interactive previews, interpretations, and products; and provides the ability to view change through time and evolve toward four-dimensional applications.