January, 2001

3-D Visualization for Effective
Data Evaluation and Presentation

Many environmental projects generate large amounts of data. Cost-effective evaluation and comprehensible presentation of the data to both internal and external customers is often critical to a project's technical and economic success. 3-D visualization is an excellent tool and a tremendous aid in this regard. With advances in digital processing and high-resolution graphics, economical PC software packages that generate impressive 3-D images are readily available to the environmental professional. Specific practical applications and benefits of a 3-D visualization include:

• Refinement of subsurface conceptual models
• Effective evaluation of ground-water trends
• Focused remediation efforts
• Powerful effective presentations
• Short-term and long-term project cost reductions
  

3-D Visualization Uses and Process

Visualization software displays powerful 3-D images created from observational data, or simulated data generated by flow and transport models such as MODFLOW and MT3D. Software packages can quickly process data and display the results graphically as discrete points, 2-D contoured surfaces, colored fields, and 3-D isosurfaces. The graphics can be presented in any way imaginable by using tools to zoom, pan, rotate, and cut cross-sections through 3-D space. Animations can even be created to show changes in ground-water flow, plume migration, and contaminant reduction over time. Evaluation and presentation with 3-D graphics can be quicker, cheaper, and more powerful than traditional hand-drawn approaches.

Practical Applications

Conceptual Model Refinement
3-D visualization can refine conceptual site models. These models, which are developed from contaminant and hydrogeologic data, provide a practical way to explain subsurface dynamics of a site. From the initial stages of an investigation through the remedial design and implementation process, the conceptual model is refined based on evaluation of subsurface data. Applying 3-D visualization enhances conclusions and recommendations by presenting the conceptual model in a format that all parties can understand.

Ground-Water Trends
3-D visualization is an excellent tool for presenting historical ground-water flow and chemistry trends. Standard evaluation of ground-water contour maps, plume maps, cross sections, hydrographs, and contaminant concentration versus time plots requires the consultant to review these pieces of information individually, which can be cumbersome and less effective. 3-D visualization combines this disparate information and develops a composite representation that can enhance the evaluation process. For example, through 3-D time-step animation, strong visual arguments can be presented to support a reduced number of sampling locations and events, which can lead to well decommissioning and opportunities to reduce overall project costs. In some cases, 3-D visualization can provide support in favor of no further action by demonstrating declining concentration trends or static plumes, resulting in successful closure.

Focused Remediation
Contaminant plumes represented as 2-D color fields and 3-D isosurfaces can pinpoint source areas and zones of higher concentrations where remediation should be focused. This applies to unsaturated zones where soil vapor extraction would be used, and in areas of ground-water contamination where ground-water extraction, multi-phase extraction, air sparging, or other in-situ treatment technology would be implemented. By combining 3-D contaminant isosurfaces with the 3-D geology and 2-D ground-water surface, migration pathways and contaminant hot spots can be identified, leading to more cost-effective remediation.

Powerful Post-Processing
Visualization software can also be used to visually display simulated data generated by mathematical ground-water flow and transport models such as MODFLOW and MT3D. The output files from these models can be converted and displayed graphically as animated 3-D representations of the model output.

Visual Presentation
3-D visualization not only helps consultants with data evaluation, but also helps bridge the gap between consultants, clients, regulators, and the public by presenting information that is easy to understand in the form of vivid graphic images. Still images can be saved as GIF files and movie-like animations can be captured as AVI files that can be replayed using Windows media player. Hyper-links to these files in electronic deliverables allow the reader to view the images and animations without the visualization software.

Applying Visual Models to Your Sites
LBG has the professional, experienced staff and technical tools to complete a 3-D image of your site. By using our technical experience, taking a cost effective approach, and focusing on the practical applications outlined above, LBG clients benefit from more cost-effective investigations, more efficient monitoring plans, and focused remediation efforts. For more information about LBG and our visualization modeling capabilities, contact your local office or visit our web site at www.lbgweb.com. Click on Services, then 3-D Visualization.