DUTCH EXPERIENCES WITH INTEGRATED GEOSCIENCE MODELING

The Geological Survey of the Netherlands delivers a suite of geological models. They are predictions of geometry and properties of the subsurface, for sustainable management of earth resources, safe living in subsiding lowlands, and the reduction of costs related to ground conditions.

Following the needs of our users, traditional geologic surveying and mapping evolved into our current systematic modelling programme. The information we supply has become more quantitative and application-oriented. Progress has also been made in the extent to which geological knowledge is incorporated in geomodels. We will discuss the state-of-the-art in geomodelling, and provide a Dutch perspective on the future of information delivery by geological surveys. Following the evolution from 2D to 3D information products, our next important step will be towards building 4D models, which represent not only geological conditions, but also processes such as subsidence, anthropogenic effects on the subsurface, and those of global change.