How to improve your structural map interpretation using the balancing, geological surfaces concept

2D balancing cross-sections methodology used by structural geologists allows to check if the present geometry is compatible with a prior state and that a deformation path exists without any toss of material between the two stages. This useful method implemented in LOGACE (IFP software) [1] is bi-dimensional and cannot verify the 3D map interpretations of complex structures and more generally structures formed by polyphased non-coaxial tectonic events. Today, a new software PATCHWORK is available and allows to verify the geometrical coherence of 3D structural interpretation by balancing geological surfaces represented by maps.