CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY'S MULTI-BENEFICIAL 3D GEO PROJECT

As climate warming drives rapid changes across California, the consequences of rapid change affecting economic vitality and the health and safety of Californians depend largely on the geology present and the utilization of geologic information to intelligently manage resources and risks. Currently, the state lacks the information needed to plan and respond as change accelerates, jeopardizing the future economic viability, and the ability to address existing policy goals.

Three-dimensional (3-D) geologic framework modeling studies provide a mapping of the character and extent of geologic materials, a digital source for modeling changes over time, managing risk to life-safety, public and private infrastructure, and economic welfare. Typically, these models are focused on a single purpose, however, more generally purposed models can be utilized for a multitude of beneficial purposes and function as a 3-D geologic map.

The California Geological Survey has recently started a multi-benefit 3-D geologic framework modeling pilot project (3D Geo) to address the state’s resource management and hazard mitigation needs. The project will be used to develop a long-term strategy and prioritization of future work across the state, which will include projects that have the greatest benefit to meet the state’s climate change response goals. The 3D Geo project occupies a roughly 10,000 km² area of the San Joaquin Basin. The scope and project area selection were developed through outreach to project partners, stakeholders, and potential future funding entities. The primary goal is to produce a regional 3-D geologic model of the basin and surround basement rock units, and secondarily to model heavily subsided aquifer systems and potential carbon storage reservoir areas. The project makes use of the latest cloud computing and modeling software advances and will employ an innovative web map service tool suite, openly accessible to the public.