Discover the practical aspects of modeling techniques and their applicability on both terrestrial and extraterrestrial structures

A wide overlap exists in the methodologies used by geoscientists working on the Earth and those focused on other planetary bodies in the Solar System. Over the course of a series of sessions at the General Assemblies of the European Geosciences Union in Vienna, the intersection found in 3D characterization and modeling of geological and geomorphological structures for all terrestrial bodies in our solar system revealed that there are similar datasets and common techniques for the study of all planets—Earth and beyond—from a geological point-of-view. By looking at Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs), Digital Elevation Models (DEMs), or Shape Models (SM), the researcher may achieve digital representations of outcrops, topographic surfaces, or entire small bodies of the Solar System, like asteroids or comet nuclei.

3D Digital Geological Models has two central objectives, namely, to highlight the similarities that geological disciplines have in common when applied to entities in the Solar System, and to encourage interdisciplinary communication and collaboration between different scientific communities. The book particularly focuses on analytical techniques on DOMs, DEMs and SM that allow for quantitative characterization of outcrops and geomorphological features. It also highlights innovative 3D interpretation and modeling strategies that allow scientists to gain new and more advanced quantitative results on terrestrial and extraterrestrial structures.

3D Digital Geological Models readers will also find:

• The first volume dedicated to this subject matter that successfully integrates methodology and applications
• A series of methodological chapters that provide instruction on best practices involving DOMs, DEMs, and SMs
• A wide range of case studies, including small- to large-scale projects on Earth, Mars, the 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko comet, and the Moon
• Examples of how data collected at surface can help reconstruct 3D subsurface models

3D Digital Geological Models is a useful reference for academic researchers in earth science, structural geology, geophysics, petroleum geology, remote sensing, geostatistics, and planetary scientists, among others, and graduate students studying in these fields. It may also be of interest for professionals from industry, particularly those in the mining and hydrocarbon fields.

Andrea Bistcchi is a Professor at the Università degli Studi di Milano - Bicocca, Milano, Italy.

Matteo Massironi is a Professor at the Univeristà degli Studi di Padova, Padova, Italy.

Sophie Viseur is a Research Engineer at the Centre Européen de Recherche et d'Enseignement des Géosciences de l'Environnement (CEREGE), Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France.