High-order sequential simulation techniques for complex non-Gaussian spatially distributed variables have been developed over the last few years. The highorder simulation approach does not require any transformation of initial data and makes no assumptions about any probability distribution function, while it introduces complex spatial relations to the simulated realizations via high-order spatial statistics. This paper presents a new extension where a conditional probability density function (cpdf) is approximated using Legendre-like orthogonal splines. The coefficients of spline approximation are estimated using high-order spatial statistics inferred from the available sample data, additionally complemented by a training image. The advantages of using orthogonal splines with respect to the previously used Legendre polynomials include their ability to better approximate a multidimensional probability density function, reproduce the high-order spatial statistics, and provide a generalization of high-order simulations using Legendre polynomials. The performance of the new method is first tested with a completely known image and compared to both the high-order simulation approach using Legendre polynomials and the conventional sequential Gaussian simulation method. Then, an application in a gold deposit demonstrates the advantages of the proposed method in terms of the reproduction of histograms, variograms, and high-order spatial statistics, including connectivity measures. The C++ course code of the high-order simulation implementation presented
High-order sequential simulation methods have been developed as an alternative to existing frameworks to facilitate the modeling of the spatial complexity of non-Gaussian spatially distributed variables of interest. These high-order simulation approaches address the modeling of the curvilinear features and spatial connectivity of extreme values that are common in mineral deposits, petroleum reservoirs, water aquifers, and other geological phenomena. This paper presents a new high-order simulation method that generates realizations directly at the block support scale conditioned to the available data at point support scale. In the context of sequential high-order simulation, the method estimates, at each block location, the cross-support joint probability density function using Legendre-like splines as the set of basis functions needed. The proposed method adds previously simulated blocks to the set of conditioning data, which initially contains the available data at point support scale. A spatial template is defined by the configuration of the block to be simulated and related conditioning values at both support scales, and is used to infer additional high-order statistics from a training image. Testing of the proposed method with an exhaustive dataset shows that simulated realizations reproduce major structures and high-order relations of data. The practical intricacies of the proposed method are demonstrated in an application at a gold deposit.
Modern approaches for the spatial simulation of categorical variables are largely based on multi-point statistical methods, where a training image is used to derive complex spatial relationships using relevant patterns. In these approaches, simulated realizations are driven by the training image utilized, while the spatial statistics of the actual sample data are ignored. This paper presents a data-driven, high-order simulation approach based on the approximation of high-order spatial indicator moments. The high-order spatial statistics are expressed as functions of spatial distances that are similar to variogram models for two-point methods, while higher-order statistics are connected with lower-orders via boundary conditions. Using an advanced recursive B-spline approximation algorithm, the high-order statistics are reconstructed from the available data and are subsequently used for the construction of conditional distributions using Bayes’ rule. Random values are subsequently simulated for all unsampled grid nodes. The main advantages of the proposed technique are its ability to (a) simulate without a training image to reproduce the high-order statistics of the data, and (b) adapt the model’s complexity to the information available in the data. The practical intricacies and effectiveness of the proposed approach are demonstrated through applications at two copper deposits.
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