BGS Groundhog Desktop is a software tool developed and made available by the

British Geological Survey The British Geological Survey (BGS) is a partly publicly funded body which aims to advance Earth science, geoscientific knowledge of the United Kingdom landmass and its continental shelf by means of systematic surveying, monitoring and research. ...

and used for geological data visualisation, interpretation and 3D

geologic modelling Geological modelling, geologic modelling or geomodelling is the applied science of creating computerized representations of portions of the Earth's crust based on geophysical and geological observations made on and below the Earth surface. A geo ...

. It is available in both free-to-use and commercial editions. Groundhog Desktop is a key part of the BGS's work to develop 3D models of the UK subsurface. It is widely used by other Geological Survey Organisations including at the

Geological Survey of Sweden ''not to be confused with the Geologiska föreningen ()'' Geological Survey of Sweden (, SGU) is a Government agencies in Sweden, Swedish government agency that was founded by Axel Erdmann in 1858, that supervises all mineral deposits activities ( ...

Geological Survey of Finland The Geological Survey of Finland ( abbreviated GTK, ) is the geological survey of Finland. The organization was founded in 1885 when Emperor Alexander III decreed that the Geological Survey of Finland (Suomen geologinen tutkimus) be established. ...

and with environmental consultancies.

Features

* Digitise and interpret geologic

cross section Cross section may refer to: * Cross section (geometry) ** Cross-sectional views in architecture and engineering 3D *Cross section (geology) * Cross section (electronics) * Radar cross section, measure of detectability * Cross section (physics) **A ...

* Correlate

borehole A borehole is a narrow shaft bored in the ground, either vertically or horizontally. A borehole may be constructed for many different purposes, including the extraction of water ( drilled water well and tube well), other liquids (such as petr ...

logs * Display and edit borehole data * Import AGS borehole data * Display and edit

geological map A geological map or geologic map is a special-purpose map made to show various geological features. Rock (geology), Rock units or stratum, geologic strata are shown by color or symbols. Bed (geology), Bedding planes and structural features such ...

linework * Import georeferenced imagery * Import

digital elevation model A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, Natural satellite, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refer ...

* Develop conceptual site models (CSM) * Develop 3D geological models

3D Geological Modelling

BGS Groundhog Desktop uses an implicit modelling algorithm based on a diverse set of inputs. An interpolation algorithm processes the inputs and generates each geological layer according to geological rules in order to create a vertically consistent stack. The resulting model is visualised as a block model.

Example projects

* A geological model of London and the Thames Valley, southeast England * Modelling rapid coastal catch-up after defence removal along the soft cliff coast of Happisburgh, UK * Enkoping Esker Pilot Study : workflow for data integration and publishing of 3D geological outputs * UK Minecraft Geology Model built using Groundhog * 3D Geological Model of the completed Farringdon underground railway

References

3D graphics software British Geological Survey Geology software Geomorphology models Scientific visualization {{free-software-stub