geomIO: An Open‐Source MATLAB Toolbox to Create the Initial Configuration of 2‐D/3‐D Thermo‐Mechanical Simulations From 2‐D Vector Drawings.

Creating the initial geometry and temperature configuration of 3‐D numerical simulations is a challenging task. Professional tools are expensive. They often have a steep learning curve and do mostly not interface with the numerical simulation software used by the geodynamics and tectonics academic community. There, we developed geometry Input/Output (geomIO), a MATLAB toolbox to create the initial configuration of geological models regarding model geometry and temperature structure. geomIO allows users to create a geo‐referenced 3‐D volume by drawing multiple 2‐D cross sections in a standard vector graphics editor. The volume is then used to assign material properties and set up initial temperature distribution on a set of vertices. In 2‐D mode, polygons can also be used to create a triangular mesh. In addition to the standard functionality, the gravity anomaly of any geometry created with geomIO can be calculated. In this paper, we give an overview of the basic functionalities of geomIO. We illustrate the strength of our software with advanced tectonic and geodynamic applications that could not have been performed with currently available free software. Applications include the Himalayan orogen, the Japanese subduction zones, present‐day salt diapirs, and small‐scale tectonic structures. We describe algorithms and file formats in the supporting information. The toolbox is user‐friendly and flexible. Users can use custom pipelines or preset data processing pipelines, so most applications require only a few lines of code. geomIO is distributed under the GNU General Public License and includes an online wiki with tutorials and additional examples. Plain Language Summary: Numerical methods are often used to simulate complex physical processes like the deformation of materials. However, creating the initial geometry and temperature configuration of three‐dimensional (3‐D) numerical simulations is a challenging task. Professional tools are expensive, have a high learning curve, and do not interface with the numerical simulation software used by the geologic academic community. Therefore, we developed geometry Input/Output (geomIO). geomIO is a software to create the geometry and initial temperature distribution of numerical simulations. geomIO allows the user to create a 3‐D volume by drawing multiple 2‐D cross sections in a vector graphics editor. Various physical properties are then attributed to this volume. In this paper, we give an overview of the basic functionalities of geomIO and some examples of advanced applications to geological problems. These applications include the Himalayan orogen, the Japanese subduction zones, present‐day salt domes, and small‐scale tectonic structures. The toolbox is user‐friendly and flexible. It allows users to create custom data treatment and with preset options, such that most applications require only a few lines of code. geomIO is distributed under the GNU General Public License, and it includes an online tutorial with additional examples. Key Points: geomIO is an open‐source MATLAB toolbox to design the initial geometry/temperature of 2‐D/3‐D numerical simulations from 2‐D vector graphicsWe demonstrate advanced applications to geodynamic problemsThe online repository contains tutorials and examples to perform basic and advanced tasks [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]