Project: Cross-border, cross-thematic multiscale framework for combining geological models and data for resource appraisal and policy support

Acronym GeoConnect3D (Reference Number: GeoE.171.009)
Duration 01/07/2018 - 30/06/2021
Project Topic The GeoConnect³d project develops and tests a new methodological approach to prepare and disclose geological information for policy support and subsurface management. The improved approach uses two regional case studies – the Roer-to-Rhine region and the Pannonian Basin. These regional, cross-border case studies are chosen to be complementary and sufficiently different in geological setting and degree of implementation of subsurface exploitation and management, in order to maximize their pan-European relevance. A novel bottom-up approach introduces two concepts that increase the geological understanding of an area and are aimed at providing a coherent geological context for evaluating subsurface applications and resolving subsurface management issues. The first new concept is the structural framework as a means of joining existing models of different scale and resolution to clarify the importance of planar structures in a way that makes the geology understandable to stakeholders involved in subsurface management. The second concept is that of geomanifestations. These specific expressions of geological processes are important sources of information for improving geological understanding. The structural framework models annotated with geomanifestations allow the integration and evaluation of complex cross-thematic research. The two bottom-up regional case studies form the study material for a top-down, more generic evaluation of potentially interacting subsurface activities that allows revisiting and refining state-of-the-art methods. Valorisation of regional results at pan-European level is ensured by testing the methodologies in two smaller pilot areas in Germany and Ireland.
Project Results
(after finalisation)
- Develop and test new workflows to build large-scale structural geological models in a way that fosters collaboration and knowledge transfer between specialists from the different countries or regions, and that simplifies the closing of knowledge gaps by combining different data sources; - Enrich the large-scale structural geological models with observations from different fields in order to advance the understanding of geological processes; - Explore ways to serve the information needs of the different stakeholders that are involved in the exploitation of geo-resources and subsurface spatial planning; - Develop and test new IT-solutions to visualize and disclose the geo-information embedded in the annotated structural framework models in a way that is customized to the needs of the end-users (with focus on regulators, planners and policy makers).
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Network GeoERA
Call GeoERA Cofund Call

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences – Geological Survey of Belgium c Belgium
2 Vlaamse Gewest Partner Belgium
3 Vlaams Instituut voor Technologisch Onderzoek. Partner Belgium
4 Geological Survey of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina Partner Bosnia and Herzegovina
5 Hrvatski Geološki Institut – Croatian Geological Survey Partner Croatia
6 Ceska Geologicka Sluzba – Czech Geological Survey Partner Czech Republic
7 Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières Partner France
8 Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe Partner Germany
9 Bayerisches Landesamt für Umwelt Partner Germany
10 Mining and Geological Survey of Hungary Partner Hungary
11 Geological Survey Ireland Partner Ireland
12 Service géologique du Luxembourg - Geological Survey of Luxembourg Partner Luxembourg
13 Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek Partner Netherlands
14 Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Partner Poland
15 Institutul Geologic al României Partner Romania
16 Geological Survey of Serbia Partner Serbia
17 State Geological Institute of Dionyz Stur Partner Slovakia
18 Geološki zavod Slovenije Partner Slovenia
19 State Research and Development Enterprise – State Information Geological Fund of Ukraine Partner Ukraine
20 Geologischer Dienst Nordrhein-Westfalen Partner Germany