System Architecture for 3D Gravity Modelling

• Main Authors: Franjo A. Šumanovac, Ipo L. Ritsema, Bert H. Bril
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Croatian Geological Survey 2010-11-01
• Series: Geologia Croatica
• Subjects: Gravity modelling; Complex models; Software architecture
• Online Access: http://www.geologia-croatica.hr/ojs/index.php/GC/article/view/345

<div>A flexible software architecture for gravity modelling is established</div><div>and the advantage is discussed of having several alternative programs tohandle complex 3D models. The flexible architecture consists of four parts, implemented in a distributed computer environment:</div><div>the three-dimensional model builders and visualizers (GOCAD</div><div>software, version 7.0), the model representation translators (GOCAD</div><div>software or GEOMOD sofware), the forward simulation algorithms</div><div>of gravimetric data (alpplying Talwani-Ewing and Goetze- Lahmeyer</div><div>methods in the finite-element representation class), and the inversion</div><div>(model updating) scheme manager based on the Cordell - Henderson</div><div>inversion procedure.</div><div>A good software architecture should at least keep the model building and updating software separate from the forward simulation software. Inversion schemes can then be realized by communication between the two parts of software.</div><div>Several synthetic cascs are shown to demonstrate the use and the</div><div>capability of the architecture and methods applied. The gravity fields</div><div>of complex 3D models, i.e. overhanging and non-overhanging salt</div><div>domes, are simulated. The gravimetric anomalies for both cases have</div><div>very similar shapes. Gravity modelling can distinguish between these,</div><div>because the existing mass differences result in anomaly differences</div><div>both for surface profiles and X-sections. The capability of the inversion</div><div>procedure is also shown in the discussed synthetic case. The inversion manager is able to create the global structural forms represented</div><div>as a horizon with constant density contrast (a two-layer model) from residual gravity anomalies.</div>