ENGAGING PRACTISING GEOSCIENTISTS IN THE DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A NATIONAL 3D GEOLOGICAL MODEL

The delivery of geological information has traditionally been through the medium of the paper map, which is a static representation of the geological understanding at a past time. As we move into the third dimension, it becomes clear that our geological understanding is more dynamic, with the acquisition of new data, knowledge and concepts, heralding the need for continuous updates to 3D geological models. Updating a 3D geological model is not purely about inserting new data, instead, it requires geoscientists to interpret the existing and new information to derive our best understanding.

This leap in progress to convey geology is concomitant with a time when geological survey organisations are resource-limited and hence designing a dynamic National Geological Model that works in a sustainable manner, is a significant challenge. Our concept is that geoscience professionals in industry and academia could contribute, not just their data, but their geological understanding. Experiences from projects such as Open Street Map and Wikipedia suggest that crowdsourcing geological knowledge is entirely possible. Once achieved, the role of the geological survey becomes one of expert scientific synthesis, adding value and knowledge to the data contributed by the geoscience community. A considerable challenge that needs to be overcome is the resolution of ownership and confidentiality of subsurface data.