# GeoProfiler v0.2 – Help

Plugin authors: M. Alberti, M. Zanieri
Concept: M. Zanieri
Implementation: M. Alberti

## Overview

GeoProfiler helps you build geological profiles by integrating topography and georeferenced geological data (points, attitudes, lines, polygons) into a reproducible workflow.

It is part of qgSurf and evolves from the standalone qProf plugin, with a largely rewritten architecture.

## Quickstart (2 minutes)

If you just want to create a geological profile quickly:

### 1. Create a topographic profile

- Digitize a trace or load a line layer
- Select a DEM
- Run → Generate 3D profile

This creates a 3D line layer stored in a GeoPackage.

### 2. Select the working profile

- Load the 3D line layer into QGIS
- Run → Choose working 3D profiles layer

### 3. Add geological data

- Points → Point projections
- Attitudes → Attitude projections
- Faults → Line intersections
- Outcrops → Polygon intersections

### 4. Plot

- Run → Plot

You now have a geological profile.

### 5. (Optional) Save your work

- Export geoprofile
- Save graphical parameters

Reload later with Import geoprofile.

### Minimal requirements

- A DEM
- A line (or a digitized trace)

## Quick Example (field use)

Digitize a profile across an Apennine ridge, select a DEM, and generate the 3D profile. Then project bedding attitudes and intersect mapped fault traces. Plot the profile to visualize the relationships between stratification and tectonic structures.

## Workflow Overview (visual)

    [Trace (2D/3D)]        [DEM]
            │                │
            └──────┬─────────┘
                   ▼
         Generate 3D profile
                   │
                   ▼
         [3D profile layer]
                   │
                   ▼
     Choose working profile
                   │
                   ▼
       Add geological data
       ├─ Points (projection)
       ├─ Attitudes (projection)
       ├─ Lines (intersection)
       └─ Polygons (intersection)
                   │
                   ▼
                Plot
                   │
           ┌───────┴────────┐
           ▼                ▼
    Export geoprofile   Save style
           │                │
           └──────┬─────────┘
                  ▼
           Import geoprofile

## Core Concept

GeoProfiler is built around two geometric elements:

- Topographic line → the 3D profile trace sampled from the DEM
- Profile plane → a vertical plane orthogonal to the profile trace

### Data behavior

- Projected data
  - Points
  - Geological attitudes
  projected onto the profile plane
- Intersecting data
  - Lines (faults)
  - Polygons (outcrops)
  intersect the topographic line

## Mental Model (important)

All outputs depend only on:

- profile geometry
- geological data
- graphical parameters

The plot is a pure result, not stored.

## 1. Creating Topographic Profiles

Profiles are stored as 3D line layers in a GeoPackage.

### Define the trace

- Load from an existing layer
- Or digitize in canvas

### Define elevation

- Select DEM

### Generate profile

- Creates 3D line(s)

### Parallel profiles

- Number must be odd (1, 3, 5, …)
- Generated symmetrically around the base trace

## 2. Working Profile Layer

Load the 3D line layer into QGIS and select:

Choose working 3D profiles layer

This defines the reference geometry for all operations.

## 3. Geological Data Integration

### 3.1 Point projections

Inputs:

- Point layer
- Elevation field
- Maximum distance from profile

### 3.2 Attitude projections

Inputs:

- Point layer
- Dip direction (or strike, RHR)
- Dip angle

Output:

- Marker + segment representing plane–profile intersection

### 3.3 Line intersections

- Input: line layer
- Output: points along the topographic profile

### 3.4 Polygon intersections

- Input: polygon layer
- Output: categorized intersections along the profile

## 4. Graphical Parameters

Controls the appearance of the plot:

- Figure size
- Vertical exaggeration
- Elevation limits
- Colors, markers, labels

### Persistence

- Save parameters
- Reload parameters

Polygon categories must match when reloading saved parameters.

## 5. Plot

Run:

Plot

- Uses default parameters if none are defined
- Automatically reflects any change in data or graphical parameters

## 6. Export and Import (Reproducibility)

### Key idea

Data and visualization are decoupled.

- Export stores data
- Graphical parameters are stored separately

### Export geoprofile

Use:

Export geoprofile

This saves:

- projected points
- projected attitudes
- line intersections
- polygon intersections

Typically into a GeoPackage or database structure.

### Import geoprofile

Use:

Import geoprofile

This allows you to:

- reload previously computed data
- restore a working session
- re-plot without recomputing

### Why this matters

- Reproducible workflows
- Reusable datasets
- Shareable results
- Independent styling

## 7. Current Limitations

- No GPX input
- No slope calculation

## Design Philosophy

GeoProfiler is designed to be:

- Reproducible
- Modular
- Flexible (supports non-linear and parallel profiles)