Mapping the subsurface

Mark Rattenbury
Programme Leader, Geological Map of New Zealand
GNS Science, Lower Hutt
Why do we need to know about the subsurface?

We build on it and into it.

We grow food and timber in it.
We extract resources from it
Dangers lurk within it and are
recorded by it

Photos by D.B. Townsend (Townsend & others 2008)

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Surface outcrop

Extrapolation of trends
Application of geological rules

Surface landform

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GNS Science
 QMAP: Geological Map
of New Zealand
• Designed and built around GIS
software (ESRI ArcGIS) since
1994
• Pragmatic design based around
map production
• High-quality printed maps using
ArcGIS
• National consistency at
1:250,000
• Rich data attributes
• 21 separate GIS datasets
• Building towards seamless GIS
coverage

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The traditional geological map informs about the near-surface

Edbrooke 2001 GNS Science

Edbrooke 2001, 2006

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Edbrooke 2006

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 Geological maps re-evaluated and reclassified
(a knowledge-based approach using GIS)
= Alluvial fan hazard analysis

Grindley et al. 2009, Barrell et al. 2009

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Geological maps reclassified using material property estimates
(a knowledge-based approach using GIS)
= Regional Earthquake Susceptibility

Begg & Mazengarb 1996 @ 1:50k

Earthquake shaking potential

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 Geological maps for gauging
liquefaction susceptibility
Liquefaction potential
87% of September 2010 earthquake Low
liquefaction occurrences were in modelled Medium
VERY HIGH to HIGH susceptibility zones High
Very high

Pre Canterbury earthquake liquefaction susceptibility modelling based on interpretation of geological map unit description

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 But geology is 3D
and paper maps don’t do 3D well

Kermode 1992 Auckland 1:50k

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 Cox & Barrell (2007)

Rattenbury & others (1998)

Swapping 2D axes

2½D drapes on DTMs

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 3D volumes in GIS
0

-5 conventional map view

-10
multiple Z
-15 values for
single X,Y
-20

-25

-30

-35
consider a buried sphere
(with its top eroded away)
-40

Contoured depth to Contoured depth to Contoured thickness

lower surface upper surface (isopach)

-10 10 15 20
-20 -25 -5 5 25
-15 -15
0
30

-30

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A new era for geological maps
Blend conventional lithostratigraphic
mapping philosophy and geological
principles with new datasets and tools:

• 3D geological modelling software

visualisation
• Drill hole data mining
• LiDAR surface analysis
• Ambient noise and passive seismic
analysis
• Cone penetrometer test analysis
Modelled greywacke basement underlying the
Taupo Volcanic Zone (Alvarez & others)
Modelled geological units in
Wellington CBD using
GSI3D software

• Ground-penetrating radar imaging

• Aeromagnetic data

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3D geological modelling software

Hutt Valley “It’s our Fault” project using

GSI3D modelling software, Boon et al. 2010
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Drill hole data (we need them!)
Leapfrog 3D modelling software

GSI3D modelling software

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 Lidar topography for
geomorphological mapping

Relict geomorphology visible

through human modification

What does it tell us about

Christchurch geology?

Surface extent of the

Springston Formation

Surface extent of the

Christchurch Formation

After Begg & Jones in prep.

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 Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) data
Measuring geotechnical property proxies Photo: http://www.rdcl.co.nz

“Ic” – the soil behavior type index

with water =
liquefaction
susceptibility
N60 – relative density
Christchurch urban geological mapping
after Begg & Jones in prep. using
Leapfrog 3D modelling software

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 Sinosteel Australia Pty Ltd
aeromagnetic data (courtesy of Dr J.
Meyers) and QMAP Waikato geology
after Edbrooke (2005)

lava flows are well

delineated on the
flanks of Pirongia
volcano

outcropping Murihiku
Supergroup strata have
well defined magnetic
character…

…that is still visible

under Oligocene Te
Kuiti Group sediment-
ary rock cover up to
300 m thick

The Junction Magnetic

Anomaly is the
magnetic expression of
the buried Dun
Mountain Ultramafic
Group peridotite rocks

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New geological maps of Christchurch

Extract from Forsyth, Barrell & Jongens 2008

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 ECAN Drillhole Database

Geology after Forsyth, Barrell & Jongens 2008

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 Christchurch urban
geological mapping
after Begg & Jones in
prep. using Leapfrog
3D modelling software
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 Christchurch urban
geological mapping
after Begg & Jones in
prep. using Leapfrog
3D modelling software
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 3D geological modelling

While 3D geological modelling software is improving

rapidly, there are serious technical challenges around:
Hardware demands
Software complexity
Lack of standards and interoperability
Handling of geological faults (discontinuities)
Quantifying uncertainty of the interpretation
Excellent for conveying a geologist’s understanding of 3D
subsurface geometries
New era in mapping out geotechnical ground classification

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 3D, GIS and local government

GIS data can be imported and input into models

Drillhole and other geotechnical data (commonly held by
councils) provide vital constraints on subsurface
interpretation
3D models can be imported via into GIS component
surfaces or 2D derivatives e.g. depth slices, depth to
surface top/base and isopachs
2D-based GIS will continue to be a vital tool at GNS
Science for managing, analysing and presenting
geological data

www.gns.cri.nz GNS Science