Smart 3D Infrastructure for Geoscience Innovation at LBEG

3D Infrastructure is a key area of work at the LBEG (State Authority for Mining, Energy and Geology, Lower Saxony), encompassing the technical support required for 3D modeling, including software provision, data management, tool development, and visualization systems. It supports the creation, processing, and publication of three dimensional geodata.

The various software needed for the 3D modelling are procured, internally distributed and carefully maintained. In-house developments supplement standard software by adding functionalities tailored to LBEG’s use cases—such as generating geological cross sections, well generator for borehole data, and data conversions. A 3D printer is available to create realistic and demonstrable 3D models which could then be displayed at events and exhibitions.

The 3D models created by the (hydro-)geologists are made available to both professionals and the general public through the web-based NIBIS3D Viewer. This platform hosts geological and hydrogeological models at state, regional, and local levels, accompanied by metadata, reports, and other relevant documentation. Additionally, the potential of virtual and augmented reality is actively explored and utilized wherever applicable.

Numerous ongoing projects with external partners enable knowledge exchange and cooperation. The GEVISGEO3D project, for instance, extends LBEG‘s infrastructure by hosting two new web instances for the states of Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg.

Regular interaction with geological surveys of other federal states, through working groups and discussion forums, ensures alignment with current developments in the field of 3D geoscience.