scholarly journals Spatial agents for geological surface modelling

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 6661-6680
Author(s):  
Eric A. de Kemp
Keyword(s):  
Building Blocks ◽  
Sparse Data ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Geological Data ◽  
Orientation Data ◽  
Spatial Continuity ◽  
Gradient Information ◽  
Geological Models ◽  
Complex Geology

Abstract. Increased availability and use of 3D-rendered geological models have provided society with predictive capabilities, supporting natural resource assessments, hazard awareness, and infrastructure development. The Geological Survey of Canada, along with other such institutions, has been trying to standardize and operationalize this modelling practice. Knowing what is in the subsurface, however, is not an easy exercise, especially when it is difficult or impossible to sample at greater depths. Existing approaches for creating 3D geological models involve developing surface components that represent spatial geological features, horizons, faults, and folds, and then assembling them into a framework model as context for downstream property modelling applications (e.g. geophysical inversions, thermo-mechanical simulations, and fracture density models). The current challenge is to develop geologically reasonable starting framework models from regions with sparser data when we have more complicated geology. This study explores the problem of geological data sparsity and presents a new approach that may be useful to open up the logjam in modelling the more challenging terrains using an agent-based approach. Semi-autonomous software entities called spatial agents can be programmed to perform spatial and property interrogation functions, estimations and construction operations for simple graphical objects, that may be usable in building 3D geological surfaces. These surfaces form the building blocks from which full geological and topological models are built and may be useful in sparse-data environments, where ancillary or a priori information is available. Critical in developing natural domain models is the use of gradient information. Increasing the density of spatial gradient information (fabric dips, fold plunges, and local or regional trends) from geologic feature orientations (planar and linear) is the key to more accurate geologic modelling and is core to the functions of spatial agents presented herein. This study, for the first time, examines the potential use of spatial agents to increase gradient constraints in the context of the Loop project (https://loop3d.github.io/, last access: 1 October 2021​​​​​​​) in which new complementary methods are being developed for modelling complex geology for regional applications. The spatial agent codes presented may act to densify and supplement gradient as well as on-contact control points used in LoopStructural (https://www.github.com/Loop3d/LoopStructural, last access: 1 October 2021) and Map2Loop (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4288476, de Rose et al., 2020). Spatial agents are used to represent common geological data constraints, such as interface locations and gradient geometry, and simple but topologically consistent triangulated meshes. Spatial agents can potentially be used to develop surfaces that conform to reasonable geological patterns of interest, provided that they are embedded with behaviours that are reflective of the knowledge of their geological environment. Initially, this would involve detecting simple geological constraints: locations, trajectories, and trends of geological interfaces. Local and global eigenvectors enable spatial continuity estimates, which can reflect geological trends, with rotational bias, using a quaternion implementation. Spatial interpolation of structural geology orientation data with spatial agents employs a range of simple nearest-neighbour to inverse-distance-weighted (IDW) and quaternion-based spherical linear rotation interpolation (SLERP) schemes. This simulation environment implemented in NetLogo 3D is potentially useful for complex-geology–sparse-data environments where extension, projection, and propagation functions are needed to create more realistic geological forms.

scholarly journals Spatial Agents for Geological Surface Modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric A. de Kemp
Keyword(s):  
A Priori ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Linear Interpolation ◽  
Sparse Data ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Orientation Data ◽  
Spatial Continuity ◽  
Gradient Information ◽  
Complex Geology

Abstract. Semi-autonomous software entities called spatial agents can be programmed to perform spatial and property interrogation functions, estimations and construction operations for simple graphical objects, that may be usable in building three-dimensional geological surfaces. These surfaces form the building blocks from which full topological models are built and may be useful in sparse data environments, where ancillary or a-priori information is available. Critical in developing natural domain models is the use of gradient information. Increasing the density of spatial gradient information (fabric dips, fold plunges, local or regional anisotropies) from geologic feature orientations (planar and linear) is key to more accurate geologic modelling, and core to the functions of spatial agents presented herein. This study, for the first time, examines the potential use of spatial agents to increase these types of gradient constraints in the context of the Loop 3D project (loop3d.org) in which new complementary methods are being developed for modelling complex geology for regional applications. The Spatial Agent codes presented may act to densify and supplement gradient and on contact control points used in LoopStructural (www.github.com/Loop3d/LoopStructural) and Map2Loop (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4288476). Spatial agents are used to represent common geological data constraints such as interface locations and gradient geometry, and simple but topologically consistent triangulated meshes. Spatial agents can potentially be used to develop surfaces that conform to reasonable geological patterns of interest, provided they are embedded with behaviors that are reflective of the knowledge of their geological environment. Initially this would involve detecting simple geological constraints; locations, trajectories and trends of geological interfaces. Local and global eigenvectors enable spatial continuity estimates which can reflect geological trends with rotational bias using a quaternion implementation. Spatial interpolation of structural geology orientation data with spatial agents employ a range of simple nearest neighbour to inverse distance weighted (IDW) and quaternion based spherical linear interpolation (SLERP) schemes. This simulation environment implemented in NetLogo is potentially useful for complex geology - sparse data environments where extension, projection and propagation functions are needed to create more realistic geological forms.

scholarly journals Adjustment of the Exploration Grids and its use to increase the Reliability of Geological Models of Coal Deposits

2020 ◽  
Vol 174 ◽  
pp. 01063
Author(s):  
Tamara Rogova ◽  
Sergey Shaklein
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Values ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
New Method ◽  
Geological Data ◽  
Geodetic Networks ◽  
Specific Measurement ◽  
Geological Modelling ◽  
Coal Deposits ◽  
Geological Models ◽  
Current Procedure

The current procedure for determining the boundaries of geological domains, the allocation of which is the mandatory element of digital geological modelling, does not entirely take into account the specifics of coal deposits. Without its improvement, it is impossible to increase the reliability of geological models used in the implementation of the “Industry 4.0ˮ strategy. A new method for analysis of geological data is supposed – the adjustment of the exploration grids method. It is to determine the corrections for values of measured parameters, the use of which eliminates the uncertainty of geological data interpretation. The correction values determined by the method of conditional measurements, which used at equalization geodetic networks. Corrections are considered as an indicator of the significance of measurement and interpolation errors which occurs in the vicinity of specific measurement points. The measured values of parameters are not corrected. Geological domains are the areas with close in values corrections, whose boundaries are corrections isolines. Separate single corrections of anomalous magnitude indicate the presence of extreme values parameters.

scholarly journals Uncertainty assessment in 3-D geological models of increasing complexity

Solid Earth ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 515-530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Schweizer ◽  
Philipp Blum ◽  
Christoph Butscher
Keyword(s):  
Information Entropy ◽  
Model Uncertainty ◽  
Model Space ◽  
Distance Measures ◽  
Geological Model ◽  
Multiple Model ◽  
Geological Data ◽  
Geological Models ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Model Geometry

Abstract. The quality of a 3-D geological model strongly depends on the type of integrated geological data, their interpretation and associated uncertainties. In order to improve an existing geological model and effectively plan further site investigation, it is of paramount importance to identify existing uncertainties within the model space. Information entropy, a voxel-based measure, provides a method for assessing structural uncertainties, comparing multiple model interpretations and tracking changes across consecutively built models. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of data integration (i.e., update of an existing model through successive addition of different types of geological data) on model uncertainty, model geometry and overall structural understanding. Several geological 3-D models of increasing complexity, incorporating different input data categories, were built for the study site Staufen (Germany). We applied the concept of information entropy in order to visualize and quantify changes in uncertainty between these models. Furthermore, we propose two measures, the Jaccard and the city-block distance, to directly compare dissimilarities between the models. The study shows that different types of geological data have disparate effects on model uncertainty and model geometry. The presented approach using both information entropy and distance measures can be a major help in the optimization of 3-D geological models.

scholarly journals Constantly operating geoinformation system for geoenvironment as a tool for pre-project investigations in city infrastructure development (on the example of moscow)

Vestnik MGSU ◽  
2016 ◽  
pp. 159-172
Author(s):  
Viktor Ivanovich Osipov ◽  
Oleg Konstantinovich Mironov ◽  
Valeriy L’vovich Belyaev
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
3D Modeling ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Environmental Data ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Geological Data ◽  
Geoinformation System ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Perspective Planning ◽  
2D And 3D

The concept of a geoinformation system for urban geoenvironment is concerned. Geological data is necessary for the sustainable development of city infrastructure. The municipal departments should use geological and environmental information for perspective planning, selecting the location for important infrastructure objects, solving ecologycal problems, and in decision making. The concept includes a preliminary list of system’s users, their informational needs, main functionalities, methodical approaches to the system design and development. Geological data must contain source documents from geological archives “as is” and geodata based on its interpretation for various tasks. These data must be checked carefully and updated with new engineering-geological investigations. Geoinformation system must integrate various geological, engineering-geological, hydrogeological, and environmental data. Sophisticated procedures must be provided to check complicated logical dependences in the system database and to analyze contradictions between source documents. 3D modeling is an adequate language for presenting geological data, therefore, the considered system must include 3D models of various scales. In the suggested concept 3D modeling is considered as a tool for investigations, not only for presentations. The end users should have possibilities to get results of their queries in various formats: tables, geological and thematic maps, geological cross-sections, 2D and 3D grids as source data for mathematical modeling, etc. In conclusion, the paper briefly describes IEG RAS activities in GIS technologies for geological cartography and 3D modeling.

Implicit geological modeling for the Einstein Telescope (Meuse-Rhine Euroregion)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Chudalla ◽  
Florian Wellmann ◽  
Alexander Jüstel ◽  
Jan von Harten
Keyword(s):  
Open Source ◽  
Probabilistic Methods ◽  
Target Area ◽  
Orientation Data ◽  
Optimal Position ◽  
Seismic Surveys ◽  
Einstein Telescope ◽  
Geological Models ◽  
Complex Engineering ◽  
Implicit Modeling

<p>Expectations for geological models for underground characterization rise with complex engineering tasks. In this project we examine a target area as a potential site for the gravitational-wave observatory “Einstein Telescope” in the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion (Netherlands, Belgium, Germany).  The Einstein Telescope will be the world’s most sensitive observatory of its kind. It consists of a triangular shaped facility connected by 10 km long arms in 200-300 m depth. A high accuracy 3-D structural geological model is required to constrain the best position of the Einstein Telescope with geophysical and geotechnical methods.</p><p>We use an implicit modeling approach based on surface points and orientation data for modeling. This data is extracted from seismic surveys and well logs available in the region. The application of probabilistic methods in this workflow allows to propagate uncertainty of the input data into a resulting model suite, allowing to define a measure of uncertainty for the final model. Specific local difficulties that were encountered during the modelling process, including data management, the representation of complex fault networks and scaling issues will be discussed.</p><p>We will show 3-D geological models for the Meuse-Rhine Eurogregion to significantly improve our geological understanding of the target area. This improved understanding is crucial for finding the optimal position for the Einstein Telescope. Data is managed using the open-source library <em>GemGIS</em>. Models are created using the open-source library <em>GemPy</em>.</p>

scholarly journals Introduction to special section: Building complex and realistic geological models from sparse data

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. SMi-SMi
Author(s):  
Guillaume Caumon ◽  
Mark Jessell ◽  
Eric de Kemp ◽  
Balazs Nemeth ◽  
Gervais Peron ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Special Section ◽  
Sparse Data ◽  
Geological Models

Photochemical Evolution of Interstellar/Precometary Organic Material

1997 ◽  
Vol 161 ◽  
pp. 23-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis J. Allamandola ◽  
Max P. Bernstein ◽  
Scott A. Sandford
Keyword(s):  
Origin Of Life ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Complex Species ◽  
Infrared Observations ◽  
Interstellar Ice ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Ultraviolet Photolysis ◽  
The Origin Of Life ◽  
Simple Molecules ◽  
Complex Organic

AbstractInfrared observations, combined with realistic laboratory simulations, have revolutionized our understanding of interstellar ice and dust, the building blocks of comets. Since comets are thought to be a major source of the volatiles on the primative earth, their organic inventory is of central importance to questions concerning the origin of life. Ices in molecular clouds contain the very simple molecules H2O, CH3OH, CO, CO2, CH4, H2, and probably some NH3and H2CO, as well as more complex species including nitriles, ketones, and esters. The evidence for these, as well as carbonrich materials such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), microdiamonds, and amorphous carbon is briefly reviewed. This is followed by a detailed summary of interstellar/precometary ice photochemical evolution based on laboratory studies of realistic polar ice analogs. Ultraviolet photolysis of these ices produces H2, H2CO, CO2, CO, CH4, HCO, and the moderately complex organic molecules: CH3CH2OH (ethanol), HC(= O)NH2(formamide), CH3C(= O)NH2(acetamide), R-CN (nitriles), and hexamethylenetetramine (HMT, C6H12N4), as well as more complex species including polyoxymethylene and related species (POMs), amides, and ketones. The ready formation of these organic species from simple starting mixtures, the ice chemistry that ensues when these ices are mildly warmed, plus the observation that the more complex refractory photoproducts show lipid-like behavior and readily self organize into droplets upon exposure to liquid water suggest that comets may have played an important role in the origin of life.

Laboratory and in-situ analysis of comet dust

1988 ◽  
Vol 46 ◽  
pp. 8-9
Author(s):  
D.E. Brownlee ◽  
A.L. Albee
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Solar System ◽  
Laboratory Study ◽  
Isotopic Analysis ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Sem Analysis ◽  
Early Solar System ◽  
Cometary Material ◽  
Comet Dust

Comets are primitive, kilometer-sized bodies that formed in the outer regions of the solar system. Composed of ice and dust, comets are generally believed to be relic building blocks of the outer solar system that have been preserved at cryogenic temperatures since the formation of the Sun and planets. The analysis of cometary material is particularly important because the properties of cometary material provide direct information on the processes and environments that formed and influenced solid matter both in the early solar system and in the interstellar environments that preceded it.The first direct analyses of proven comet dust were made during the Soviet and European spacecraft encounters with Comet Halley in 1986. These missions carried time-of-flight mass spectrometers that measured mass spectra of individual micron and smaller particles. The Halley measurements were semi-quantitative but they showed that comet dust is a complex fine-grained mixture of silicates and organic material. A full understanding of comet dust will require detailed morphological, mineralogical, elemental and isotopic analysis at the finest possible scale. Electron microscopy and related microbeam techniques will play key roles in the analysis. The present and future of electron microscopy of comet samples involves laboratory study of micrometeorites collected in the stratosphere, in-situ SEM analysis of particles collected at a comet and laboratory study of samples collected from a comet and returned to the Earth for detailed study.

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