Implementation of a Web-based 3D Visualization of a Geological Model Using WebGL Technology

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) visualization of geological objects are capable of providing reliable and detailed information describing the
spatial distribution of soils, geology and topography, and optimizing the land resource management. However, the prevailing 3D visualization
approaches are limited by the installation of software, which is costly and associated with side effects, or by the complexity of the programming. To overcome the limitations of the existing methods, a simple solution is described in this paper to combine the existing geological
database and build a network interface for retrieving the geological information, and model the 3D subsurface structure. With this solution a
WebGL-application is programmed, which allows users a more holistic, multi-dimensional view of the geological data in Web browsers and
simplifies the planning and operation processes in the exploitation of shallow geothermal energy. In this paper, a number of open research
questions are discussed, including mapping graphic variables, labeled representation of soil types, and interactive modeling control. The test
results demonstrate that the web-based visualization of the geological model can be realized using WebGL technology.