The Geological Survey of Western Australia is developing 3D modeling capabilities to better integrate geological, geophysical, and geochemical data and increase knowledge of Western Australia's subsurface. A team is building and managing 3D structural models according to standards and stakeholder needs while collaborating with research institutions. Challenges include integrating diverse existing data, producing useful products, developing technical frameworks, and managing large volumes of data and models. The GSWA is focusing on regional 3D models of areas like the Yilgarn Craton and its margins through projects involving seismic surveys, gigapixel images, and physical property modeling. The goal is to provide updated digital 3D model packages of Western Australia annually.

1. Government of Western Australia
Department of Mines and Petroleum
Geological Survey of
Western Australia
3D Geoscience at GSWA
Klaus Gessner

2. GSWA 3D Geoscience: Who?
Klaus Gessner - GSWA
Ruth Murdie – GSWA
Lucy Brisbout – GSWA
Huaiyu Yuan – Macquarie / CET
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

3. GSWA 3D Geoscience: What?
Aim
• increase the knowledge of Western Australia’s subsurface
through the integration of geophysical, geological and
geochemical data in 3D structural models.
Objectives
• developing the capability to build, manage, analyse and
store 3D models according to GSWA quality standards and
stakeholder needs
• engaging in collaborative research with leading research
institutions that complement GSWA’s data collection,
analysis and modelling capabilities.
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

4. GSWA 3D Geoscience: Why?
• Need for integration of surface and depth data:
Effective communication to stakeholders
• ‘The end of the cartoon era’ – increased level
of rigor by geometrical constraint (interpreted
map, cross section, forward model, 3D model,
…)
• Reduced uncertainty and risk
• It’s fun (sometimes)
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5. Integration: Focus on Yilgarn and its margins
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6. Challenges
• Collecting / archiving / updating existing models / objects
– Integration of existing data
– Level of integration (data vs. models: impact on how we handle
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm
our data)
– Corporate style (polygons vs volumes, scale increments, …)
• Products to stakeholders
– Data vs. models; 2D vs 3D
– GA approach (World Wind based viewer?)
• Technical framework
– Should be similar between across State surveys, and GA
– Longevity

7. Modelling challenge: Explicit / Implicit
Updateable vs ‘3D sewing’
Henson 2006
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm
Wellmann 2012

8. Data Management Challenge
• Variety of input data
– Data types / formats
– Coordinate systems
– Accuracy across scales (‘mantle to vein’)
• Archive and store
– ‘z-issue’
– Permission management
• Variety of output data
– Visualisation / Interface (e.g. GA viewer based on NASA
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm
software)
– Data export
• ‘Victorian’solution nvcollaborative project?
– Turnkey system ($$$)

9. Production challenge
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

10. GSWA 3D Geoscience: How
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm
Priorities
• Field campaigns: passive seismic arrays
• Focus on regional scale 3D Models (internal/external)
– Delivery as digital packages (annually updated)
• Cooperation
– CET’s Integrated Exploration Platform
– Numerical simulation: Geodynamics (CET) of AFO, Musgraves
– Imaging / property modelling
• Gigapixel mosaics
• Physical properties / CT scans

11. Large Scale …
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

12. Large Scale: CCFS and ANU Collaboration ( via
ARC CCFS and Linkage funding)
Passive Array Studies along Yilgarn margins: Capricorn and Albany-Fraser Orogen
Huaiyu Yuan
CCFS
(CET / Macquarie)
Christian Sippl
ANU RSES
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

13. Slightly less large scale …
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14. Mesoscale
Outcrop scale:
Gigapixel images
Ivan Zibra
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

15. Microscale
Physical property models based on x-ray
tomography; acoustic property
measurements (collaboration with
Australian Synchrotron, Argonne,
UWA, CSIRO)
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

16. Regional Structural Model Package
GSWA
• Sandstone GB
• Yilgarn Fault Network
• Windimurra
• AFO …
• Capricorn …
External (at own risk)
• SX (Nico Thebaud)
• Eastern Goldfields (GA)
• Musgraves (Alan Aitken, GA)
• Kimberley
• Tanami
• +/- Assorted basin models (WAGCOE, UWA CPR)
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm

17. Perth: The ‘Munich’ of 3D Geomodelling … ?
Critical mass in Perth - producing 3D models of WA
Government of Western Australia Government of Western Australia DDeeppaarrttmmeenntt ooff MMiinneess aanndd PPeettrroolleeuumm
Geology!
Your
picture
here …