Beyond map view: teaching the conceptualisation and visualisation of geology through 3D and 4D geological models

The ability to visualise geological structures in three dimensions is an important skill developed during an undergraduate student's geology course. These visualisation skills include the ability to conceptualise a 3D model from a 2D geological map. A further higher order skill is to ‘see’ how 3D geological structures develop through time. To assist undergraduate students to improve competence in these key visualisation skills, and to aid university teachers, we present a series of interactive 3D digital models of geological structures. The geological models can be forward modelled and restored, allowing the user to visualise the formation and evolution of geological structures and relate this to the final model geometry and map pattern.