The Jurassic Gorgo a Cerbara palaeoescarpment (Monte Nerone, Umbria-Marche Apennine): modelling three-dimensional sedimentary geometries

Abstract

In the last decades, methodologies for three-dimensional digitisation of geological outcrops have considerably grown. These methods provide to geologist powerful tools to collect, manipulate and communicate field evidence through the reconstruction of high-resolution digital models, starting from a considerable amount of raw data. Among the different methods and technologies, high-resolution Digital Photogrammetry has proven to be among the most economical and performing methods, with several applications in the field of geology sensu lato , including outcrop visualisation, geological site management, sedimentology, palaeontology, structural geology, geomorphology and applied geology. In this contribution we applied high-resolution Digital Photogrammetry to a key-outcrop from the Umbria-Marche Apennines. The studied site is at Gorgo a Cerbara (Piobbico, PU), where the NW-facing Jurassic escarpment of the Monte Nerone Pelagic Carbonate Platform (PCP) is spectacularly exposed. Starting from a suitable number of photographic images of the outcrop taken for several angulation, we reconstruct a high-definition 3D digital model of the exposed palaeoescarpment. The obtained models returned peculiar sedimentological, taphonomical and stratigraphical details, allowing to visualise the complex sedimentary evolution of a PCP margin. 3D modelling allows to observe and display the geological features from ideally infinite different perspectives, helping in the reconstruction, understanding and communication of complex three-dimensional geometries in a more direct and objective way. The study confirms high-resolution photogrammetric as one of the best low-cost/high-performance method for modelling, visualisation and dissemination in the field of geology sensu lato .