Abstract
The world of the geologist is, of course, multi-dimensional, but it is an unfortunate fact that traditional interpretation methods (e.g., contoured maps, cross sections, fence diagrams, isometric surfaces) limit the view of this world to two dimensions, or at best quasi-three dimensions (Fisher and Wales, 1990). This is to say spatially and temporally distributed data (especially data such as fluids or rock properties distributions) cannot always be efficiently visualized or analyzed in this setting (Raper, 1989b). Frequently the geologist finds he must envision the third- and sometimes fourth- (temporal) dimensions “in the mind’s eye”; mentally filling in the blanks or gaps between seetions, contoured maps or perhaps a series of vertically registered isometric surfaces. However well this has worked or not worked, the mental image or model is ephemeral, imprecise and unavailable to the next investigator for comparison (Kelk, 1991).
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Fisher, T.R., Wales, R.Q. (1992). Three Dimensional Solid Modeling of Geo-Objects Using Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS). In: Turner, A.K. (eds) Three-Dimensional Modeling with Geoscientific Information Systems. NATO ASI Series, vol 354. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2556-7_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-2556-7_9
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