The Pplates Virtual Earth project - Euler rotations
This map of the Sunda-Java subduction zone was prepared by Richards and
published
in Richards et al. 2007.
Pplates can be used to build
virtual worlds,
each
constructed for a
particular time in the past. The Virtual Earth is made up
of 3D meshes that describes the
geometry of the
planetary lithosphere
in present subduction zones, here for the Indonesian slab.
To provide an example as to how to utilize the AuScope software machine, the modelling and simulation community intends to illustrate a 4D geodynamics workflow, focused on the evolution of the Sunda-Java subduction zone. If you are interested in becoming a user of the NCRIS AuScope software machine, make direct contact with the scientists building the individual components. To access and utilize Pplates, go to the software repository. If you want us to give you a hand, develop the specifications for a use case, and let us know.
Points to note:
1) The data sources are embedded in descriptions of the real or material Earth. For example our Virtual Earth (which is almost complete) now describes the 3D geometry of the presently subducting lithospheric slabs.
2) We are now constructing Virtual Worlds that allow the examination of ancient configurations of our planet. The Virtual World format is desgned to allow interoperibiity between different reconstruction programs, and to allow a general mapping of any GIS data onto a virtual world defined at a particular time in the past.
3) Programs can be downloaded from the repository.
To provide an example as to how to utilize the AuScope software machine, the AuScope modelling and simulation community intends to illustrate a 4D geodynamics workflow, using GPlates, Pplates and Underworld. The demonstrator initially targets subduction zone models, demonstrating interoperability between Underworld, GPlates and Pplates for 4D dynamic modelling. The example focuses initially on the evolution of the Sunda-Java subduction zone: Gplates will provide surface velocity grids to Underworld, for specified time steps. This begins definition of a sequence of AuScope "virtual worlds" (all of which will eventually be grid-enabled).
Pplates is designed and built by Dr Joe Kurtz and Professor Gordon Lister.