TITLE:

Visual3D. Visualisation of 3D–4D models in exploration and geosciences

DESCRIPTION:

While the territory of the EU in many parts shows a very high exploration potential and many EU countries obtain high rankings in the Fraser Institute annual reports on attractiveness (Fraser Institute, 2015) it is still a fact that a mere 4% of global expenditure in exploration is invested within European countries. One tool to trigger a higher degree of investment in exploration and to secure ultimately the domestic supply of both main commodities and critical raw materials (CRM) is to enhance our understanding of the Earth’s crust below the surface—and the major aspect is here to optimised our understanding about the 3rd dimension in geology. By integrating industry, academia and research institutes with expertise and excellence in exploration and 3D modelling it is the ambition of the network of infrastructure to increase the understanding of geological bodies in 3D and 4D through improved visualisation techniques. The vast majority of European mining companies are working in 3D for mine planning, re-source estimations and production. For this purpose a wide range of expert programs is uti-lized such as Leapfrog, Vulcan, Surpac, gOcad, MOVE and many others. This leads to a wide range of 3D-models with very differing character as well as various types of data and file for-mats. Especially the combination of models on different scales, such as the incorporation of deposit scale models into regional scales models, often includes over-simplifications and may lead to the loss of data, respectively. Therefore, a network that improves the interchangeability of models and furthermore enables full data integration will decrease the need for over-simplifications and consequently increase the usability of geomodels in exploration and research. One further benefit of some of the software packages is the possibility to dynamically generate alternative solutions to the geological problems, which are evident in cases where the data coverage is sparse, and the model uncertainties are con-sequently high to start with. The alternative solutions should be based on geologically valid hypotheses, and testing their applicability should at the least rule out geologically unreasona-ble alternatives.One other major problem is output and communication of the produced geomodels. The cur-rent communication of geomodels often requires specific expert software in order to make different data formats readable. This limits the group of possible co-workers in a modelling project and the group of people that can utilize such models to the amount of available – and often expensive – licenses. A network of 3D-modelling users can substantially widen up the possibilities to make geomodels accessible to a wider audience.Software packages for computer aided modelling (CAM) for geology and for industry standard mineral resource and reserve models are very complex. Furthermore there is a wide bunch of CAM software available. Each package has its individual functions, advantages and disadvantages. Often a person is skilled in application one or two different software packages. Hence software and applicant can be seen as a unit. Changing software or personnel needs investment in additional training and causes downtimes. To set up work flows for data interoperability could minimize expenditures on software and training for M&E; companies. Hence the results of such a network could maximize the benefit of the work related to modelling, interpretation and engineering and improve the time and cost efficiency of these processes.The visualisation tools available at the partners will support better targeting of new mineral resources at depth, and new technologies optimized for deep exploration in diverse terrains will enhance the efficiency of exploration by reducing environmental impacts and costs. This expected outcome will also re-shape exploration practices on low-grade and deep-seated mineral resources. The distribution and commercialization of the project´s outcomes among stakeholders of the extractive industry will improve competitiveness of European exploration and mining. Testing the results of the project in mineral belts with different geological, environmental and societal challenges of exploration will also support the generalization of know-how and technologies and their potential transfer outside of Europe.A large number of partners at all CLCs in EIT Raw Materials have decided to promote activities related to exploration for primary raw materials under the umbrella Lighthouse Exploration. The intention is to explore synergies and integration between different types of KAVAs related to the theme and in this way to maximize the outcome and KPIs for this important theme. The concept will be developed further during the construction phase of EIT Raw Materials.

DURATION:

2017/04/01 - 2020/04/01

FUNDING:

EIT Raw Materials

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