Groundhog — virtual borehole, cross-section and horizontal section viewer

Virtual borehole

Groundhog allows the user to drill virtual boreholes and slice through a geological model both vertically and horizontally using interactive tools on the fly.

This tool offers a glimpse into how geological models will be increasingly made accessible via the Web.

To demonstrate the type of information available, we have released models for five areas of the UK that reflect a range of geological settings.

Sample models available

Try Groundhog: virtual borehole, cross-section and horizontal section viewer

Help using Groundhog

  1. Navigate to the model
    To zoom to one of the models, either: double click on a blue flag or select an location from the drop-down list below.
    Zoom to model:
  2. Reveal geology
    When zoomed into an area of interest, single click inside the model's grid to reveal the geology at that location.
  3. Draw geology
    When zoomed into an area of interest, inside the 3D model's grid, choose one of the three blue buttons:

       Place borehole button    Draw vertical cross-section button    Draw horizontal section button

    Pop-ups must be enabled.

    • To generate virtual borehole logs
      1. Click on the 'Borehole' button and then click inside the model's grid at your area of interest
      2. A new browser window will open and show the virtual borehole log at the selected location
    • To generate virtual cross-sections
      1. Click on the 'Cross-section' button
      2. Single click inside the model's grid at your start position and then continue single-clicking to create a line-of-section.
      3. Double click to finish; a new browser window will open to show the virtual cross-section
    • To generate virtual horizontal sections
      1. Click on the 'Horizontal section' button and then click inside the model grid. A pop-up appears with input fields for elevation relative to sea level, depth below ground level and number of pixels.
      2. Enter either elevation relative to sea level or depth below ground level in metres. Enter number of pixels across the image.
      3. Click on the 'Generate Section' button. A new window opens up with the horizontal section through the model at the depth/elevation entered.

After using the 'Borehole', 'Cross-section' and 'Horizontal section' modes, the application defaults back to the 'Reveal geology' mode.

Details

The data obtained from the Groundhog viewer is based on a prediction and interpretation of the subsurface data. It should not be used as a replacement for a site investigation.

The depth of the lower geological unit in the model may be truncated at its base, such that the unit thickness is not accurately represented. The extent at which the geological succession is subdivided may vary between models.

Lithological information is generalised for each geological unit, and local conditions may vary.

For comprehensive information of the Geology at this point or line, please use the BGS GeoReport service.

Contact

For further information contact enquiries@bgs.ac.uk