5fcc0f8c-a01b-4456-84a7-b5a74287c947 urn:uuid eng UTF-8 nonGeographicDataset nonGeographicDataset 2025-10-16T23:59:53 creation ISO 19115 2016 3D Web Mapping - 3D Geoscience Information Online 5fcc0f8c-a01b-4456-84a7-b5a74287c947 Scientists within Geoscience Australia create complex models of 3D geological structures. These models are built using specialised 3D modelling software to which very few people outside of Geoscience Australia have access. To overcome this access problem, Geoscience Australia has developed 3D VRML (Virtual Reality Modelling Language) models, to display interactive 3D data using a web browser plug-in - hence 3D web mapping. VRML is an open source standard for 3D graphics on the web. Geoscience Australia's 3D web mapping development is unique and has proved to be a very effective method for communicating large amounts of complex 3D geoscientific and geospatial information to a wide audience. Geoscience Australia has produced nearly 40 unique 3D VRML models during the last five years, some of which are available for online interaction on the Geoscience Australia website. The next challenge for Geoscience Australia's visualisers is to move from VRML to X3D - the XML successor to VRML. This paper outlines the motivations for developing 3D VRML models, explains the technologies used, and takes a brief look at possible future developments. 3D model Conference Paper Earth Sciences GA Publication Published_External Download the file (pdf) documentDigital Download the file (pdf) PDF Unnamed resource documentDigital HTML