ArcGiS Geological Modeling Techniques

Geology
Team
ArcGIS Geological Modelling
Pook, Geoffrey
Meinhardt (C&S) GEOT
Geology Team
ArcGIS Geological Modeling Techniques

The purpose of this guide is to provide steps to produce a 3D geological model
for the purposes of displaying a geological interpretation for ground conditions
underlying a site. The model is dependent on the quality of the data and any
conclusions drawn from it must be based on prior interpretative analyses
conducted on the data available from the desk study and GI stages. The
principle aim of the model is to provide a visual representation of ground
conditions in an informative and presentable way in order to better present
geological conclusions.
The guide begins with a step-by-step introduction to the formation of strata

layers. In addition to this are instructions on how to develop models by
incorporating supplementary factual data or varying the presentation of existing
data. The guide presumes some working knowledge of the ArcGIS user interface.
Geological Layers
The following 8 stages will introduce the concepts behind the production of a 3D
layered model for ground conditions. It assumes that sufficient data has been
collected from desk study and GI sources and that an interpretation of
expected ground conditions is known.
Stage 1 – Excel Table
Use an Excel spreadsheet (or the AGS Converter Table) to record data in
depth descending order with reference to:
• BH/DH ID
• Easting
• Northing
• Stratum base
NOTES
Ground level must also be recorded as a distinct layer.
In the event that a stratum is absent in a borehole whilst present in others;

record the base depths as those of the base of the preceding stratum. This will
register a thickness of 0. Strata depths must contain a Z value in the vertical
sequence of the borehole.
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Label each Worksheet in the Excel Document with an appropriate name for
reference later.
If localized layers occur within the site boundary (e.g. pond deposits, marble,
cavities that do not cover the full site area) these may require lenses to be
created. This can be implemented with the use of a separate table. Record the
following data only for the BHs that contain the relevant strata.
• BH/DH ID
• Easting
• Northing
• Stratum Top
• Stratum Base
Ensure that lenses are interpreted accurately to prevent overlapping with BHs
that do not contain any evidence. Consider using multiple lenses at varying
depths based on strata concentrations.
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Stage 2 – ArcCatalog
Create a Folder for your new project.
Paste the Excel table in to the folder using the Windows interface.
Open ArcCatalog and Add a Folder Connection to the newly created Folder. Add
a New Shape file to your folder called Site Area. Use a Polygon style with the
Hong Kong coordinates. Additional polygon shapefiles can be added for each lens
that needs to be displayed within the model.
Stage 3 - ArcMap
Open a new project and choose the Hong Kong

Coordinate system. Using the Search bar find
the tool Table to Table to convert the initial
Excel spreadsheet table to an ArcMap format.
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It will be added to the current project. Add each

sheet as an individual table using this process. (At
this stage only the data layer with largest extent
need be added, e.g. GL). Right click on the table
and choose to Display X Y Data.
Choose the options to input X, Y and Z data for

the boreholes. The X and Y data will take Easting
and Northing respectively, for each dataset; the Z
value will be the corresponding layer of strata (e.g.
GL, Fill, Grade IV etc.). Save the table within the
project folder.
These data points will now be presented on your map. The data will be displayed
in 2D planes providing the display of the total area covered by the BHs.
Stage 4 - Polygon
Within ArcMap click Add Data and add

the polygon shapefile Site Area created
earlier.
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Right click the shapefile and click Edit. Within the edit toolbar on the right of
the ArcMap interface click the shapefile named Site Area and choose the
polygon shape from the options below it.
Trace the outline of the BH points

displayed within ArcMap using the
snapping feature to draw a polygon. Click
Editor, Stop Editing when completed and
save the changes. The Site Area shapefile now contains the coordinates of the
extent of the site area. Repeat this process for any lens shapefiles created
earlier.
Stage 5 – ArcScene
Open a new project in ArcScene and choose the Hong Kong Coordinates if
prompted. Add in the tables needed from the project folder created earlier.
Display the X Y data and include the Z data for each layer*. The data will be
presented as 3D point layers.
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*NOTE As the base of one stratum is most likely the top of the subsequent
stratum, it is not necessary to create duplicate layers. It is suggest that only
the following layers are created:
• GL
• Strata 1 base
• Strata 2 base
• Strata X base (etc.)
• Founding/Termination Level or a set depth to encompass all BHs e.g. -
100mPD (this last option will ensure that the model created has a smooth
base)
Stage 6 – Rasters
In the Search bar locate the IDW tool to create a raster image from the point
data. Locate the point layer for GL and create the raster using the Z data for
GL (the current layer), saving it in the project folder.
Right click on the raster and open Properties.

Choose the Base Heights tab and click the option
to float the raster on a custom surface. Choose
the raster layer itself to float on.
Repeat this
process for
each relevant
layer for
display.
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Stage 7 – TIN
Locate the tool Raster to TIN. The TIN files will

require a large amount of data processing and it is
suggested that in order to improve performance it is
best to zoom out so that the data is not visible in the
window.
Create a TIN for each raster that you created in the

preceding stage. Untick the TINs on the left-hand
menu so that they are not displayed.
Stage 8 – Extrusion
Locate the Extrude Between tool. Using two TINs, extrude the Site Area
polygon between them. This will automatically adopt the thickness of the layer
and will cover the extent of the original site area polygon.
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3D Vertical Boreholes
• Arrange data as follows recording the GL and then base of each

subsequent layer:
Point ESTG NRTG Rock Top Base Thickness

ID Type
BH1 810000.00 825000.00 Fill 5.00* 3.00 2.00
BH1 810000.00 825000.00 Alluvium 3.00 2.50 0.50
BH1 810000.00 825000.00 Marine 2.50 -1.00 3.50
BH1 810000.00 825000.00 SDG -1.00 -5.00# 4.00
BH2 810005.00 825005.00 Fill 4.00* 2.50 1.50
BH2 810005.00 825005.00 Alluvium 2.50 1.50 1.00
BH2 810005.00 825005.00 MDG 1.50 -2.00 3.50
BH2 810005.00 825005.00 SDG -2.00 -6.00# 4.00
BH3 810010.00 825010.00 Fill 3.00* 2.00 1.00
BH3 810010.00 825010.00 Marine 2.00 1.00 1.00
BH3 810010.00 825010.00 MDG 1.00 -3.00 4.00
BH3 810010.00 825010.00 SDG -3.00 -7.00# 4.00
* This represents Ground Level
# This represents termination of the hole
• Plot top or base of each strata by using Table to Table conversion tool in
ArcScene then Display XY Data.
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• Use Buffer tool to create a 2D disc representing each strata top/base

• Use Base Height (in Properties) to place each buffer disc at the
appropriate depth (top/base)
• Use Extrude (in Properties) to extrude each buffer disc by the thickness
of the relevant layer
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3D Horizontal/Inclined Coreholes
• Calculate the XY coordinates at each strata boundary using the bearing

of the corehole as shown below. Within Excel you must use radians
((degrees/360)*2Pi).
Bearing
E
• Calculate the mPD of each strata boundary using the principles outlined
above and the diagram below.
Dip
mPD (m)
• Each strata for each corehole will be contained within its own table as
follows:
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Corehole ID Initial Initial Initial mPD Rock/Soil

Easting Northing Type
Corehole ID Final Easting Final Final mPD Rock/Soil
Northing Type
• Plot initial and final of each strata as two points by using Table to Table
conversion tool in ArcScene then Display XY Data.
• Use the Points to Line tool to connect these points.
• Use 3D Buffer of this line to produce a cylindrical corehole
• Colour the resultant cylinder based on Rock/Soil Type
Slope Angle Maps
Using LiDAR data it is possible to extract data

from the DTM images of the site.
o Slope - Use Slope (3D Analyst) tool

to extract the slope angle data and
colour appropriately
o Contour – Use Contour (3D Analyst)
tool to extract contour data from
the DTM at appropriate intervals.
These data layers can be cropped to fit the site

boundary using the following quick steps.
1. Plot the site boundary using ArcMap by

using a polygon Shapefile (created in
ArcCatalog) to draw around the site
boundary or extent of GI data. Save and
end Editing in ArcMap before proceeding.
2. Add this shapefile to the ArcScene project.
3. In ArcScene, choose to Clip (Data Management) for Slope or Clip (3D
Analyst) for Contour data using the extent of the Shapefile just created.
LiDAR Data Analysis
LiDAR data can be used as ground level for model surfaces. Simply Clip the
section of DTM that you require for your site boundary using the principles
outline in the previous section. Convert this raster to a TIN using the Raster to
TIN tool. When extruding layers use this as the ground level from which to
extrude.
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Features such as boulders

and drainage lines can be
placed on this ground level
3D model by plotting the XY
coordinates of the features
concerned and floating the
features on the Base Height
of the DTM TIN.
3D Structures
Buildings, basements,
foundations and piles can be
created and shown within
models. If the 2D layout is
known and XY coordinates are
obtained for the extent of the
structure a polygon Shapefile
can be created to recreate the
footprint of the building. This
can then be extruded between
known levels, e.g. ground level or
the maximum height of the
structure. This method limits
the user to creating only simple
rectangular polygonal structures.
Tunnels and Irregular Sub-horizontal Structures
It is possible to create
a polyline Shapefile with
3D data where each
intersection of the line
can be given an mPD
value. This can then be
turned into a regular
cylinder using the 3D
Buffer tool.
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Geology

ArcGIS Geological Modeling Techniques

The guide begins with a step-by-step introduction to the formation of strata

Stage 1 – Excel Table

Ground level must also be recorded as a distinct layer.

In the event that a stratum is absent in a borehole whilst present in others;

Create a Folder for your new project.

Open a new project and choose the Hong Kong

It will be added to the current project. Add each

Choose the options to input X, Y and Z data for

Within ArcMap click Add Data and add

Trace the outline of the BH points

Right click on the raster and open Properties.

Locate the tool Raster to TIN. The TIN files will

Create a TIN for each raster that you created in the

• Arrange data as follows recording the GL and then base of each

Point ESTG NRTG Rock Top Base Thickness

# This represents termination of the hole

• Use Buffer tool to create a 2D disc representing each strata top/base

• Calculate the XY coordinates at each strata boundary using the bearing

Corehole ID Initial Initial Initial mPD Rock/Soil

Slope Angle Maps

Using LiDAR data it is possible to extract data

o Slope - Use Slope (3D Analyst) tool

These data layers can be cropped to fit the site

1. Plot the site boundary using ArcMap by

LiDAR Data Analysis

Features such as boulders

Tunnels and Irregular Sub-horizontal Structures

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