19^th International CODATA Conference
Category: Data Visualization

3D Modeling and Visualization

Jean-Jacques Royer (Jean-Jacques.Royer@ensg.u-nancy.fr)
Computer Science Department, ENSG-CRPG, France

This paper presents more than 10 years of experiences in applying 3D modeling for processing and visualizing geoscience’s information. Subsurface characterization is important in a number of geological activities including petroleum industry, waste deposit, natural resources (mineral and water), geotechnical engineering and environmental applications. However, it faces a lack of information because the subsurface is usually investigated from irregular sampling points (bore hole, outcrop sampling, seismic sections) making the topology of the underlying real object unknown. This uncertainty as to real shape implies that classical CAD approaches might be irrelevant, as shown by several pioneer works. The situation can be further complicated by the presence of discontinuities such faults, fractures or folded layers. This is why the natural object approach has been developed specifically to handle complex natural 3D objects. It involves specific data structures, information system, logical and topological constraints that will be shortly presented. Implementation of such notion has been performed in gOcad using objects oriented programming. The knowledge is included in the modeling using a set of constraints. Several cases studies will be presented for illustrating the method and concepts.