Ebook: Three-Dimensional Modeling with Geoscientific Information Systems

A. K. TURNER Department of Geology and Geological Engineering Colorado School of Mines Golden, Colorado 80401 USA Geology deals with three-dimensional data. Geoscientists are concerned with three­ dimensional spatial observations, measurements, and explanations of a great variety of phenomena. The representation of three-dimensional data has always been a problem. Prior to computers, graphical displays involved specialized maps, cross-sections, fence diagrams, and geometrical constructions such as stereonets. All were designed to portray three-dimensional relationships on two-dimensional paper products, and all were time­ consuming to develop. Until recently, computers were of little assistance to three-dimensional data handling and representation problems. Memory was too expensive to handle the huge amounts of data required by three-dimensional assessments; computational speeds were too slow to perform the necessary calculations within a reasonable time; and graphical displays had too Iowa resolution or were much too expensive to produce useful visualizations. Much experience was gained with two-dimensional geographic information systems (GIS), which were applied to many land-use management and resource assessment problems. The two-dimensional GIS field matured rapidly in the late 1980's and became widely accepted. The advent of the modern computer workstation, with its enhanced memory and graphical capabilities at ever more affordable prices, has largely overcome these earlier constraints.

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Preface....Pages 3-5
Achievements of the Workshop....Pages 7-10
Front Matter....Pages 11-12
Spatial Data Handling in the Geosciences....Pages 13-27
3-D Modelling With Geoscientific Information Systems: The Problem....Pages 29-37
Geologic Data Handling....Pages 39-44
The Role of the Conceptual Datamodel in Software Application Integration....Pages 45-55
Front Matter....Pages 57-58
A Spatial Information System With Advanced Modeling Capabilities....Pages 59-67
The DASDBS Geokernal — An Extensible Database System for GIS....Pages 69-84
Three Dimensional Solid Modeling of Geo-Objects Using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS)....Pages 85-105
A Mapping Approach to Three-Dimensional Modeling....Pages 107-122
GOCAD: A Computer Aided Design Program for Geological Applications....Pages 123-141
Front Matter....Pages 143-144
Modeling Natural Objects Via Octrees....Pages 145-157
3-D Structures for the Encoding of Geometry and Internal Properties....Pages 159-188
Methods for the Efficient Storage and Manipulation of Spatial Geological Data....Pages 189-214
Key 3D Modelling Concepts for Geoscientific Analysis....Pages 215-232
Geometry for Three-Dimensional GIS in Geoscientific Applications....Pages 233-257
GIDBS: A Database System for Hierarchically Represented Gray-Scale Images....Pages 259-281
Front Matter....Pages 283-284
Applications of 3-D Geoscientific Modeling for Hydrocarbon Exploration....Pages 285-289
Two Major Problems in Representing Geological Well Data and Seismic Data In Petroleum-Bearing Regions Via 3-D Geographic Information Systems....Pages 291-302
The Application of New 3-D Computer Modelling Techniques to Mining....Pages 303-325
Front Matter....Pages 283-284
Applications of Three-Dimensional Geoscientific Mapping and Modeling Systems to Hydrogeological Studies....Pages 327-364
Front Matter....Pages 365-365
Report of Discussions by the Computer Scientists....Pages 367-373
Report of Discussions by the Geoscientists....Pages 375-380
Report of Discussions by the Members of National Geological Surveys....Pages 381-384
Report of Discussions by the Hydrocarbon Interest Group....Pages 385-389
Report of Discussions by the Minerals Exploration Interest Group....Pages 391-396
Report of Discussions by the Environmental Sciences Interest Group....Pages 397-400
Report of Closing Discussions....Pages 401-410
Back Matter....Pages 411-443

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Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Preface....Pages 3-5
Achievements of the Workshop....Pages 7-10
Front Matter....Pages 11-12
Spatial Data Handling in the Geosciences....Pages 13-27
3-D Modelling With Geoscientific Information Systems: The Problem....Pages 29-37
Geologic Data Handling....Pages 39-44
The Role of the Conceptual Datamodel in Software Application Integration....Pages 45-55
Front Matter....Pages 57-58
A Spatial Information System With Advanced Modeling Capabilities....Pages 59-67
The DASDBS Geokernal — An Extensible Database System for GIS....Pages 69-84
Three Dimensional Solid Modeling of Geo-Objects Using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS)....Pages 85-105
A Mapping Approach to Three-Dimensional Modeling....Pages 107-122
GOCAD: A Computer Aided Design Program for Geological Applications....Pages 123-141
Front Matter....Pages 143-144
Modeling Natural Objects Via Octrees....Pages 145-157
3-D Structures for the Encoding of Geometry and Internal Properties....Pages 159-188
Methods for the Efficient Storage and Manipulation of Spatial Geological Data....Pages 189-214
Key 3D Modelling Concepts for Geoscientific Analysis....Pages 215-232
Geometry for Three-Dimensional GIS in Geoscientific Applications....Pages 233-257
GIDBS: A Database System for Hierarchically Represented Gray-Scale Images....Pages 259-281
Front Matter....Pages 283-284
Applications of 3-D Geoscientific Modeling for Hydrocarbon Exploration....Pages 285-289
Two Major Problems in Representing Geological Well Data and Seismic Data In Petroleum-Bearing Regions Via 3-D Geographic Information Systems....Pages 291-302
The Application of New 3-D Computer Modelling Techniques to Mining....Pages 303-325
Front Matter....Pages 283-284
Applications of Three-Dimensional Geoscientific Mapping and Modeling Systems to Hydrogeological Studies....Pages 327-364
Front Matter....Pages 365-365
Report of Discussions by the Computer Scientists....Pages 367-373
Report of Discussions by the Geoscientists....Pages 375-380
Report of Discussions by the Members of National Geological Surveys....Pages 381-384
Report of Discussions by the Hydrocarbon Interest Group....Pages 385-389
Report of Discussions by the Minerals Exploration Interest Group....Pages 391-396
Report of Discussions by the Environmental Sciences Interest Group....Pages 397-400
Report of Closing Discussions....Pages 401-410
Back Matter....Pages 411-443
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