The document discusses Andrew Zolnai's work over several decades developing 3D GIS capabilities, beginning with early formulations in the 1990s and iterations showcasing real-time 3D navigation and tracking. It describes some of his key contributions, including developing 3D analysis tools for applications in petroleum and mining extraction, creating accurate and scalable geological data models, and modeling subsurface reservoirs using ArcGIS Pro and related extensions. Most recently, his work has involved developing dynamic tessellation grids that adjust to plate tectonic movements and revisiting 3D modeling of Gulf of Mexico salt dome structures.

1. 3D GIS time travel
Andrew Zolnai’s story
@azolnai

2. First 3D formulation
• 1990 Geobyte manuscript
• Inspired by Operation Database
• State-of-the-3D
• Quad-treeing, parallel processing

3. First 3D iteration
• GIS World 1992
• State-of-GIS again
• Preview of real-time 3D
• Vehicle navigation tracking etc.

4. Big time
• Esri ArcUser 2002
• Multipatches in Gulf of Mexico
• Data conflation in Colorado
• Looking to the internet

5. Student mentorship
• ESRI professional paper 2003
• Petroleum and mining apps
• Operation Database AML in ArcMap
• Geostatistical & 3D Analyst

6. Geological data models
• ESRI professional paper 2004
• Accuracy, breadth, commonality & depth
• Scalable, stable & shared
• Cordilleran geology demo using public data

7. Teapot Dome / RMOTC
• NPR-3 oil field testing centre
(closed in 2015)
• Complete suite of well and seismic
• Subsurface reservoir flow model
• ArcGIS Pro & Geocap extension

8. Global dynamic grids
• 2017 AGI, Royal Geographical Society
• Tesselation grids as dynamic datum
• In response to earth plate movements
• OGC Discrete Global Grid System DWG

9. Gulf of Mexico revisited
• ArcGIS Pro subsurface 3D
• Salt dome multi-patch
• Bore-hole sleeves
• Production structure

10. Geohipster calendar
• ArcGIS Pro and Geocap extension
• Seismic data “bricked”
• Web Scene presentation
• 3rd calendar in 4 years since its start