Discrete Surface Modeling Based on Google Earth: A Case Study

Google Earth (GE) has become a powerful tool for geological, geophysical and geographical modeling; yet GE can be accepted to acquire elevation data of terrain. In this paper, we present a real study case of building the discrete surface model (DSM) at Haut-Barr Castle in France based on the elevation data of terrain points extracted from GE using the COM API. We first locate the position of Haut-Barr Castle and determine the region of the study area, then extract elevation data of terrain at Haut-Barr, and thirdly create a planar triangular mesh that covers the study area and finally generate the desired DSM by calculating the elevation of vertices in the planar mesh via interpolating with Universal Kriging (UK) and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW). The generated DSM can reflect the features of the ground surface at Haut-Barr well, and can be used for constructingthe Sealed Engineering Geological Model (SEGM) in further step.Comment: Proceedings of IEEE Conference, ICCSNT 2012, in Pres

Integrated environmental modeling : the new DREAM for Geological Surveys

This paper summarises the British Geological Survey (BGS) plans for the development of integrated environmental models to address the grand challenges that face society. It describes a vision for an Environmental Modelling Platform (BGS 2009), that will allow integrated models to be built and describes case studies of emerging models in the United Kingdom. After an initial scoping phase (Giles et al. 2010), this activity is now being carried out under the DREAM (Data and Research for Environmental Applications and Modelling) cross-cutting project

Roughness of stylolites: a stress-induced instability with non local interactions

We study the roughness of stylolite surfaces (i.e. natural pressure-dissolution surfaces in sedimentary rocks) from profiler measurements at laboratory scales. The roughness is shown to be nicely described by a self-affine scaling invariance. At large scales, the roughness exponent is $\zeta_1 \approx 0.5$ and very different from that at small scales where $\zeta_2 \approx 1.1$. A cross-over length scale at around $\lambda_c =1$mm is well characterized and interpreted as a possible fossil stress measurement if related to the Asaro-Tiller-Grinfeld stress-induced instability. Measurements are consistent with a Langevin equation that describes the growth of stylolite surfaces in a quenched disordered material with long range elastic correlations.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

MULTI-SPECIES MULTI-PHYSICS MODELING AND VALIDATION OF HYDRODYNAMIC ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM FOR USED NUCLEAR FUEL

Department of Nuclear EngineeringAccurate predictions of processes in hydrodynamic electrochemical systems require an understanding of both the surface electrochemical reactions and the bulk mass transport. Complete coupling of electrochemistry and fluid mechanics is computationally very rich for multidimensional modeling since it involves multiple components across multi-phases at the same time. Therefore, this study develops a computational model that combines a 3D model for calculating single-species mass transport and a 2D model for calculating multi-species electrochemical reactions. The computational model is validated against lab-scale experimental data using a rotating cylinder solid metal cathode and liquid metal anode in the Argonne National Laboratory. The 3D model assumes that U, the representative component in the system, dominates the hydrodynamic behavior, and thus calculates mass transport caused by the rotating solid cylinder electrode. The 2D model still reflects the diffusion of U, Pu, and Nd within a diffusion boundary layer and the bulk concentration changes of these components. The 3D model provides a diffusion layer thickness reflecting convective mass transfer effects to the 2D model. The results of the proposed model show good agreement with the reference experiment, and the model can be considered an important tool for investigating the multidimensional distributions of hydrodynamic and electrochemical variables.clos

Database management and implementation for coal fire detection and monitoring in the Ruijgou Coalfield, Northwest China

Coal fire monitoring by aerospace remote sensing and GIS techniques is an advanced approach, which has been implemented in the Rujigou coalfield, northwest China. A database of several different types of data, including remote sensing images, results of geological surveys, etc., has been collected and assembled in a PC-based information system, which is being developed by the International Institute for Aerospace Survey and Earth Sciences (ITC). This coal fire monitoring and management information system (CoalMan) comprises of two main parts: one is the database with its management tools, and the tools for data processing and analysis form the other. This paper first introduces the structure of the CoalMan information system, presents the data types and contents of CoalMan database, then shows the data management methods. A complex data analysis package is outlined too, as the core of the information system

Determining Geological Properties by a Hybrid Seismic-Magnetotelluric Approach

This paper concerns the controlled source audio magnetotelluric technique (CSAMT) for imaging subsurface structure. Given the short time available, we limited our investigation to a simple 1D earth model where regional seismic and well logs suggest discrete layers, each with constant seismic velocity and constant electrical conductivity. In addition, the well logs provide rough estimates of velocity and conductivity for use as a starting point in the seismic and MT inversions