walis 2009

Spatial VisionInnovative Geospatial

Solutions

Profile DatabasesAn application in groundwater management

“getting to the Z of it all”

Profile DatabasesAn application in groundwater management

“getting to the Z of it all”

What's the Problem?What's the Problem?

• Aquifers are 3D in nature

• A stack of related structural units

• Vertical structure or relationships are an

important

• New “mapping” at higher resolutions

• Such relationships are difficult in (planar) GIS

Difficult…mmm…..Or is it?

The basics!The basics!

• GIS is all about graphs

• Standard GIS is a graph of “x” and “y” viewed from above – planar

• The Z dimension is an issue for this framework

What's important?What's important?

• Communication of these 3D relationships

• Easy access for resource managers and the community

• Seeing the structure clearly(show me the “z”)

What about using 3D?What about using 3D?

• Powerful visualisation mediums

• Immersive

• Highly interactive

• Looks fantastic!

The intuitive choice

… well maybe???

What about using 3D?What about using 3D?

• Special software / skills / conversion = ($ & time)

• Updating???

• Hidden Information

• Separate formats

• Systematic???

Deciding what I want?Deciding what I want?

• See structure (z)

• Easy to communicate

• Augment current business processes

• Open to a wide user base

Deciding what I want?Deciding what I want?

• Part of a standard GIS

• No additional software

• Automation

• Wide distribution (WWW)

• Extend the data model

So where to start?So where to start?

• An old idea!

• A good model!

• Let’s break it down!

So where to start?So where to start?

Planar

Profile

Legend

InsertPlanar

“Graph”

So where to start?So where to start?

• Profiles – isn’t that the Z Dimension?

• Profiles are good at explaining structure

• Easy to understand & communicate relationships

So can we?So can we?

• Create multiple profiles (x-sections) from planar GIS surfaces

• Automate the construction of sections

• Have a relationship between planar and profile views

• Do all this in a standard GIS

So can we?So can we?

Enter the Profile DatabaseEnter the Profile Database

Inputs Transects Transects

ProfileDatabase

ProfileDatabase

automated

You are here!You are here!

Condah Groundwater Management

Area

Profile Database BitsProfile Database Bits

60km

Trace

Transect (section)

automated

Profile Database BitsProfile Database Bits

50km

automated

Profile Database BitsProfile Database Bits

automated

Convert“x” , “y”

To“d” , “z”

Profile Database BitsProfile Database Bits

Convert“x” , “y”

To“d” , “z”

automated

Profile Database BitsProfile Database Bits

If you really need a 3D hit!If you really need a 3D hit!

surface

basement

lta

surface

basement

lta

If you really need a 3D hit!If you really need a 3D hit!

surface

basement

lta

surface

basement

lta

bores

It is GIS…really!It is GIS…really!

It is GIS…really!It is GIS…really!

Remember our “model”?Remember our “model”?

Is that the end?Is that the end?

A safe return from the “z” dimension

• See structure (z)

• Easy to communicate

• Augment current processes

• Open to a wide user base

• Part of a standard GIS

• No additional software

• Automation

• Wide distribution (WWW)

• Extend the data model

No!…What else can I slice?No!…What else can I slice?

No!…What else can I slice?No!…What else can I slice?

What’s next?What’s next?

• Concept development

• Core automation procedures

• Tool feasibility

• Tool development

Thanks to my team

Mina JahanshahiLuong Tran

and

Milos.Pelikan@SpatialVision.com.au

This really is the end!This really is the end!