Process for structural geologic analysis of topography and point data

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866389

Eliason, Jay R ^[1]; Eliason, Valerie L. C. ^[1]

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1. Richland, WA

A quantitative method of geologic structural analysis of digital terrain data is described for implementation on a computer. Assuming selected valley segments are controlled by the underlying geologic structure, topographic lows in the terrain data, defining valley bottoms, are detected, filtered and accumulated into a series line segments defining contiguous valleys. The line segments are then vectorized to produce vector segments, defining valley segments, which may be indicative of the underlying geologic structure. Coplanar analysis is performed on vector segment pairs to determine which vectors produce planes which represent underlying geologic structure. Point data such as fracture phenomena which can be related to fracture planes in 3-dimensional space can be analyzed to define common plane orientation and locations. The vectors, points, and planes are displayed in various formats for interpretation.

• Research Organization: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
• DOE Contract Number: AC06-76RL01830
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4698759
• OSTI ID: 866389
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/702/324/434/
3-dimensional
accumulated
analysis
analyzed
assuming
bottoms
common
common plane
computer
contiguous
controlled
coplanar
data
define
defining
described
detected
determine
digital
displayed
filtered
formats
fracture
geologic
implementation
indicative
interpretation
line
locations
lows
method
orientation
pairs
performed
phenomena
plane
planes
process
produce
quantitative
quantitative method
related
represent
segment
segments
selected
series
space
structural
structure
terrain
topographic
topography
underlying
valley
valleys
various
vector
vectorized
vectors