3-D Geologic Modeling and Visualization of Geologic Boundaries: Theory Based on The Generalized Geologic Function

要旨

The geologic function that assigns a unique geologic unit to every point in the objective three-dimensional (3-D) space is a key element of a computerized geo-mapping. Algorithms for construction and visualization of 3-D geologic models based on the geologic function have been widely developed. As the concept of geologic boundary is not contained in the geologic function, we newly define the generalized geologic function that assigns a pair of right above and right below geologic units to every point in the objective 3-D space. The generalized geologic function clarifies a boundary between geologic units to be visualized. Visual Basic program Geomodel2003 was developed in order to visualize geologic boundaries on the objective surface by embedding sub-routines for visualization of geologic boundary that had been developed in Geomodel2000. We verified the utility of the previously proposed algorithm. The Application of Geomodel2003 to a test data in the Honjyo area, Akita Prefecture, Japan, proved that the proposed algorithm is valid for 3-D geologic modeling.