Terrestrial laser scanning for use in virtual outcrop geology

Abstract

This paper discusses the application of laser scanning and photo-realistic modelling to aid the study of geological outcrops, using two examples from central and eastern Utah, USA, which are analogues to subsurface hydrocarbon fields. Terrestrial laser scanning point clouds were triangulated to obtain high-resolution surface representations, which were combined with semi-metric imagery to give texture-mapped photo-realistic models of the outcrops. Such models provide the basis for geological interpretation and were used to reconstruct the geometries of layers over the extent of the study area. The digitised geological layers were in turn used to build geocellular volumes that capture the properties of the geology. These models were built in subsurface reservoir modelling software and were used to simulate the flow of fluids through the reservoir analogue. In this way, the spatial information provided significantly more detailed quantitative data and greatly improved the outcrop studies compared to traditional field techniques.

Integration of Vessel-Based Hyperspectral Scanning and 3D-Photogrammetry for Mobile Mapping of Steep Coastal Cliffs in the Arctic

“…For capturing geological outcrop data from vertical walls on a more local scale, considerable research has been devoted to the deployment of Terrestrial Laser Scanners (TLS) linked to a high-resolution digital camera, which allows the scanned point cloud to be colored and textured using the acquired photos and further allows for the generation of so-called Digital Outcrop Models (DOMs) [13][14][15][16][17]. DOMs are used by geologists to map and interpret geological features and can facilitate the measurement of scale and orientation of geological surfaces (i.e., structures, lineaments, units and interfaces) [1,3,13].…”

Close Range Hyperspectral Imaging Integrated With Terrestrial Lidar Scanning Applied to Rock Characterisation at Centimetre Scale

“…The lidar data processing has the purpose of generating a photorealistic lidar model, as described in Buckley et al (2008 and2010), which allows geometric measurements and geological interpretations to be made. To ensure complete coverage of a field site, and to avoid scan shadows, multiple scan positions are required with an overlap of at least 20%.…”

Geological mapping and fold modeling using Terrestrial Laser Scanning point clouds: application to the Dents-du-Midi limestone massif (Switzerland)

“…For these reasons, remote sensing technologies are experiencing a rapid development and are being widely applied to enhance geological analysis of rock slopes. Aerial and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (ALS, TLS) are commonly used and constitute efficient remote sensing technologies for geological studies [Zanchi et al, 2009;Buckley et al, 2008Buckley et al, , 2010Jaboyedoff et al, 2012;Abellan et al, 2014]. The potential of LiDAR-derived topographic models has been demonstrated in different geological domains such as: structural characterization [Slob and Hack, 2004;Kemeny et al, 2006;Haneberg, 2007;Jaboyedoff et al, 2007;Sturzenegger and Stead, 2009;Sturzenegger et al, 2011;Gigli and Casagli, 2011;Lato et al, 2012], landslide monitoring [Rosser et al, 2007;Oppikofer et al, 2008;Stock et al, 2012] and 3D folds and layers reconstruction [Zanchi et al, 2009;Jones et al, 2009;De Donatis et al, 2009].…”