From Complexity to Clarity: The Impact of Geo3D Viewer on Geological Visualization

The development of 3-D geological mapping, including 3-D geological modeling, over the past three decades presents challenges for the proper presentation of results. It is natural to present the final outcome to the user, which is a three-dimensional object in the form of a 3-D grid or a set of layers or geobodies. Modeling software often, but not always, offers free viewers to display the results, but these are often complex programs akin to the modeling software itself. Their complexity and the necessity of installation on a computer often pose a barrier to a wider audience. Therefore, there is a need for lightweight, free software accessible via a web browser that allows for the presentation of 3-D geological mapping/modeling results to both specialists and the general public. Is it worthwhile to create a tool that meets the needs of both specialists and the general public? The answer to this question is not straightforward. In the following description of the Geo3D web viewer, various aspects of visualizing geological structures and the data used for modeling will be presented. Hopefully, the answer will become apparent.