ecbytsEdit geological layers: top, bottom and lithology right in the 3D model
About 2 min read
- Guide
- Tour
Build a subsurface layer in the 3D model: set its top and bottom depths in meters, choose the lithology, hide the whole subsurface and undo a removal.
In ecbyts, the subsurface of a site appears in the 3D model as stacked layers: clay, sand, gravel, rock. Each layer has a top and a bottom, in meters of depth, and a material, its lithology. Whoever builds a site model needs to fit these layers to what the boreholes showed.
The Edit geological layers tour teaches this path on the screen itself, in about four minutes. Each step only moves on when you actually do the action: create the layer, type the bottom, pick the material. Everything happens in the model open in your browser; the tour saves nothing to the cloud and subscribes to no plan. To try it before creating an account, open the guided tour.
What the tour shows, step by step
- Add a subsurface layer. In the families list, click Geological Layer. A new layer appears in the 3D model and is selected.
- Name the layer. In Element details, change the name to something that says what it is, for example Silty clay.
- Set the top and bottom. Top and bottom are depths in meters, negative below ground. Type the bottom, for example -8, and press Enter: the thickness is recalculated and the layer changes height in the scene.
- Choose the lithology. Lithology is the type of soil or rock. Pick one from the list: the layer color follows the material. The transparency bar lets you see what is inside.
- Hide all layers. In the scene layers button, uncheck Show layers. Wells and the plume stay in view without the subsurface in front.
- Show the layers again. Check Show layers once more to bring the subsurface back.
- Remove the layer. With the layer selected, click the trash can in Element details. It leaves the model.
- Undo the removal. Click Undo, or press Ctrl+Z. The layer comes back with the name, top, bottom and lithology you set.
- Done. A summary of what you did, in the same model.
Where the layer data comes from
The tour teaches how to edit layers on screen. Reading the boreholes and deciding the stratigraphy of a site is your call: top, bottom and lithology values come from your field survey. The demo model uses fictitious data.