Geological Interpretation and Modeling

Geological interpretation, which is by nature an iterative, interactive process, typically requires definition of large quantities of spatial information. Ideally, what we need for this frequently difficult task is a kind of 3d CAD system for geologists, one that allows us to define and visualize highly irregular geological volumes quickly and efficiently. This type of approach to interpretation is the subject of the following discussion. Of course, there are significant differences between it and normal CAD systems, such as accommodating the kind of data structures we discussed in Chapter 4, working with highly irregular volumes instead of cubes, cylinders and spheres, and most importantly, allowing us to attach geological attributes to those volumes. It should also accommodate, in a convenient way, the familiar methods of interpretation that geologists have developed with experience.