I will defend my current Ph.D. for a Doctorate of Mathematics and Natural Sciences at the University of Bergen & Uni Research!
Title ? Visual Techniques for Geological Fieldwork Using Mobile Devices (VOM2MPS project)
When ? 6th October 2017 – 13:15 (Defense duration: ~2 hours)
Where ? Realfagbygget, Allégaten 41, 5008 Bergen, Auditorium 5
Photographer: Daniel Francois Malan
Content / Abstract:
Mobile devices are ubiquitous in our modern society. A large collection of applications help to entertain, communicate and work – all around the globe, at any given time. This potential is currently underused for geosciences applications and studies, despite increasing efforts in recent years from within academia and industry. Furthermore, simple apps exist that allow geologists to locate and navigate via base maps (e.g. using Google Maps), collect pictures, voice recordings and notes to their geological observations, and even digitally measure physical data. These tools are helpful, but considerably underuse the capabilities provided by modern mobile devices (i.e. commercially-available smart phones and tablets).
One task envisaged as prime application for mobile devices is the geological interpretation of outcrops. While interpretations of stratigraphy, sedimentary objects- and facies, and structural features are traditionally conducted by fieldbook sketches, the potential for a digitalisation of the process during fieldwork is considerable. In addition, it is possible, and increasingly common, to document the interpretations on digital models of the outcrop’s surface (i.e. DOMs) in 3D. This is where the technical vision and the geological application needs meet: introducing visual techniques for mobile devices that allow to directly display, interrogate and interpret geological, 3D surface models during fieldwork procedures.
Christian Kehl’s dissertation addresses this multi-disciplinary scientific frontier by introducing new mathematical and computational concepts that facilitate fieldwork on mobile devices using 3D DOMs. The general research direction selected to provide 3D interpretation in this dissertation is as follows: Field geologists, equipped with mobile devices, take photos of a study outcrop. Then, the mobile application provides several, computationally-assisted methods to connect the captured photos with a given 3D surface model. Afterwards, the geologist can interpret the outcrop on the photographs with simple, intuitive drawing interfaces that resemble common PC drawing tools. Subsequently, due to the link of photos and 3D surface, the geologist can view the image interpretations in 3D on the linked surface model directly on the mobile device. All these procedures are specifically designed for field use in remote areas (e.g. Svalbard, Norway or the Karoo Basin, South Africa), as they consume minimal battery power and require no WiFi connection to be operable. This specific design goal lifts the presented techniques apart from former applications presented outside the geological domain. The computational methods facilitating this workflow have been published by Mr. Kehl in several international journals and conference proceedings.
Despite the resulting, fully-functional techniques and software tools, the dissertation also provides a conclusive, comprehensive and exhaustive discussion of high-tech, state-of-the-art visual techniques that are envisaged for future use in field geology. The dissertation specifically attempts to clarify the goals of these techniques, their general working principle and their prospect limitation. This discussion should allow domain expert within the geosciences to more feasibly evaluate future technology, as such feasible evaluation has been experienced as major limitation in the scientific communication and discussion during the presented research period.
In practice, the presented technology is going to be used by collaborating geologists within the VOM2MPS project for improving oil- and gas reservoir models. Besides the hydrocarbon industry application, the use of the presented technology extends further to carbon capture and storage (CCS), geothermal energy studies and even flood protection and management, which is discussed at length in the dissertation.