From Maps to Models - Tutorials for structural geological modeling using GemPy and GemGIS

Journal of Open Source Education, vol. 6, pp. 185

Abstract

The geological map-to-model tutorials presented enable users of the GemPy and GemGIS Python libraries and associated packages to create structural geological models from scratch using input data for conceptual models but also more sophisticated models representing possible real-world examples.Textbook geological maps and cross sections (e.g., Bennison, 1990;Powell, 1995) are transformed into structural models serving as teaching materials for undergraduate students in the field of Applied Geosciences at RWTH Aachen University, Germany.Their purpose is to enable students to not only think about geological problems in 2D (map view) but also in 3D (current structure of the subsurface) and even 4D (depositional, tectonic, and erosional events resulting in the current structural framework).The purpose of creating these models is not to substitute the necessary analog thinking of geoscientists but to aid them in verifying their results, to advance 3D thinking skills, and to introduce students to the world of data processing, data visualization, data analysis, and structural geological modeling in Python.

Authors 6

1. Alexander Jüstel Aachen Geological Institute

   Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer IEG , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG , Kockerellstraße 17 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , Geological Institute , Wüllnerstraße 2 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   Fraunhofer IEG, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG, Kockerellstraße 17, 52062 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Geological Institute, Wüllnerstraße 2, 52062 Aachen, Germany

2. Miguel de la Varga
   Affiliation as printed

   Terranigma Solutions GmbH , Laurentiusstraße 59 , 52072 Aachen , Germany

   Terranigma Solutions GmbH, Laurentiusstraße 59, 52072 Aachen, Germany

3. Nils Chudalla Aachen Institute for Computational Geoscience

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Computational Geoscience, Geothermics and Reservoir Geophysics, Mathieustraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Jan David Wagner Aachen Geological Institute

   Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer IEG , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG , Kockerellstraße 17 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , Geological Institute , Wüllnerstraße 2 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   Fraunhofer IEG, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG, Kockerellstraße 17, 52062 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Geological Institute, Wüllnerstraße 2, 52062 Aachen, Germany

5. Stefan Back Aachen Geological Institute

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University , Geological Institute , Wüllnerstraße 2 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Geological Institute, Wüllnerstraße 2, 52062 Aachen, Germany

6. Florian Wellmann Aachen Institute for Computational Geoscience

   Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geotechnologies IEG · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer IEG , Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG , Kockerellstraße 17 , 52062 Aachen , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , Institute for Computational Geoscience , Geothermics and Reservoir Geophysics , Mathieustraße 30 , 52074 Aachen , Germany

   Fraunhofer IEG, Fraunhofer Research Institution for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Systems IEG, Kockerellstraße 17, 52062 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Computational Geoscience, Geothermics and Reservoir Geophysics, Mathieustraße 30, 52074 Aachen, Germany