3D GIS modelling using ESRI's CityEngine: a case study from the University Jaume I in Castellon de la Plana Spain

Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Geospatial Technologies.

Gravity Modelling of the Crustal Structure Below Bavali Shear Zone And Adjacent Major Plutons Of Northern Kerala

The primary aim of the present study is to acquire a large amount of gravity data, to prepare gravity maps and interpret the data in terms of crustal structure below the Bavali shear zone and adjacent regions of northern Kerala. The gravity modeling is basically a tool to obtain knowledge of the subsurface extension of the exposed geological units and their structural relationship with the surroundings. The study is expected to throw light on the nature of the shear zone, crustal configuration below the high-grade granulite terrain and the tectonics operating during geological times in the region. The Bavali shear is manifested in the gravity profiles by a steep gravity gradient. The gravity models indicate that the Bavali shear coincides with steep plane that separates two contrasting crustal densities extending beyond a depth of 30 km possibly down to Moho, justifying it to be a Mantle fault. It is difficult to construct a generalized model of crustal evolution in terms of its varied manifestations using only the gravity data. However, the data constrains several aspects of crustal evolution and provides insights into some of the major events.

Investigations in massive 3D gravity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Soil-structure interaction during tunnelling in urban area: observations and 3D numerical modelling

This work illustrates a soil-tunnel-structure interaction study performed by an integrated,geotechnical and structural,approach based on 3D finite element analyses and validated against experimental observations.The study aims at analysing the response of reinforced concrete framed buildings on discrete foundations in interaction with metro lines.It refers to the case of the twin tunnels of the Milan (Italy) metro line 5,recently built in coarse grained materials using EPB machines,for which subsidence measurements collected along ground and building sections during tunnelling were available.Settlements measured under freefield conditions are firstly back interpreted using Gaussian empirical predictions. Then,the in situ measurements’ analysis is extended to include the evolving response of a 9 storey reinforced concrete building while being undercrossed by the metro line.In the finite element study,the soil mechanical behaviour is described using an advanced constitutive model. This latter,when combined with a proper simulation of the excavation process, proves to realistically reproduce the subsidence profiles under free field conditions and to capture the interaction phenomena occurring between the twin tunnels during the excavation. Furthermore, when the numerical model is extended to include the building, schematised in a detailed manner, the results are in good agreement with the monitoring data for different stages of the twin tunnelling. Thus, they indirectly confirm the satisfactory performance of the adopted numerical approach which also allows a direct evaluation of the structural response as an outcome of the analysis. Further analyses are also carried out modelling the building with different levels of detail. The results highlight that, in this case, the simplified approach based on the equivalent plate schematisation is inadequate to capture the real tunnelling induced displacement field. The overall behaviour of the system proves to be mainly influenced by the buried portion of the building which plays an essential role in the interaction mechanism, due to its high stiffness.

2D and 3D numerical modelling of multilayer detachment folding and salt tectonics

Numerical modelling was performed to study the dynamics of multilayer detachment folding and salt tectonics. In the case of multilayer detachment folding, analytically derived diagrams show several folding modes, half of which are applicable to crustal scale folding. 3D numerical simulations are in agreement with 2D predictions, yet fold interactions result in complex fold patterns. Pre-existing salt diapirs change folding patterns as they localize the initial deformation. If diapir spacing is much smaller than the dominant folding wavelength, diapirs appear in fold synclines or limbs.rnNumerical models of 3D down-building diapirism show that sedimentation rate controls whether diapirs will form and influences the overall patterns of diapirism. Numerical codes were used to retrodeform modelled salt diapirs. Reverse modelling can retrieve the initial geometries of a 2D Rayleigh-Taylor instability with non-linear rheologies. Although intermediate geometries of down-built diapirs are retrieved, forward and reverse modelling solutions deviate. rnFinally, the dynamics of fold-and-thrusts belts formed over a tilted viscous detachment is studied and it is demonstrated that mechanical stratigraphy has an impact on the deformation style, switching from thrust- to folding-dominated. The basal angle of the detachment controls the deformation sequence of the fold-and-thrust belt and results are consistent with critical wedge theory.rn

Basement structure of the Hontomín CO2 storage site (Spain) determined by integration of microgravity and 3D seismic data

We dedicate this paper to the memory of Prof. Andres Perez Estaún, who was a great and committed scientist, wonderful colleague and even better friend. The datasets in this work have been funded by Fundación Ciudad de la Energía (Spanish Government, www.ciuden.es) and by the European Union through the “European Energy Programme 15 for Recovery” and the Compostilla OXYCFB300 project. Dr. Juan Alcalde is currently funded by NERC grant NE/M007251/1. Simon Campbell and Samuel Cheyney are acknowledged for thoughtful comments on gravity inversion

3D numerical modelling of acoustic horns using the method of fundamental solutions

In the present work, a three-dimensional (3D) formulation based on the method of fundamental solutions (MFS) is applied to the study of acoustic horns. The implemented model follows and extends previous works that only considered two-dimensional and axisymmetric horn configurations. The more realistic case of 3D acoustic horns with symmetry regarding two orthogonal planes is addressed. The use of the domain decomposition technique with two interconnected sub-regions along a continuity boundary is proposed, allowing for the computation of the sound pressure generated by an acoustic horn installed on a rigid screen. In order to reduce the model discretization requirements for these cases, Green’s functions derived with the image source methodology are adopted, automatically accounting for the presence of symmetry conditions. A strategy for the calculation of an optimal position of the virtual sources used by the MFS to define the solution is also used, leading to improved reliability and flexibility of the proposed method. The responses obtained by the developed model are compared to reference solutions, computed by well-established models based on the boundary element method. Additionally, numerically calculated acoustic parameters, such as directivity and beamwidth, are compared with those evaluated experimentally.

Rice morphogenesis and plant architecture: Measurement, specification and the reconstruction of structural development by 3D architectural modelling

Background and Aims The morphogenesis and architecture of a rice plant, Oryza sativa, are critical factors in the yield equation, but they are not well studied because of the lack of appropriate tools for 3D measurement. The architecture of rice plants is characterized by a large number of tillers and leaves. The aims of this study were to specify rice plant architecture and to find appropriate functions to represent the 3D growth across all growth stages. Methods A japonica type rice, 'Namaga', was grown in pots under outdoor conditions. A 3D digitizer was used to measure the rice plant structure at intervals from the young seedling stage to maturity. The L-system formalism was applied to create '3D virtual rice' plants, incorporating models of phenological development and leaf emergence period as a function of temperature and photoperiod, which were used to determine the timing of tiller emergence. Key Results The relationships between the nodal positions and leaf lengths, leaf angles and tiller angles were analysed and used to determine growth functions for the models. The '3D virtual rice' reproduces the structural development of isolated plants and provides a good estimation of the fillering process, and of the accumulation of leaves. Conclusions The results indicated that the '3D virtual rice' has a possibility to demonstrate the differences in the structure and development between cultivars and under different environmental conditions. Future work, necessary to reflect both cultivar and environmental effects on the model performance, and to link with physiological models, is proposed in the discussion.

Gravimetric study of a potential mineral deposit in the Itapororoca region, Brazil

A semi-detailed gravity survey was carried out over an area of 650 km(2) localized in the Eo-Neoproterozoic coastal zone of Paraiba State where 548 new gravity stations were added to the existing database. Gravity measurements were made with a LaCoste and Romberg model G meter with a precision of 0.04 mGal. The altitude was determined by barometric levelling with a fixed base achieving a 1.2 m measure of uncertainty, corresponding to an overall accuracy of 0.24 mGal for the Bouguer anomaly. The residual Bouguer map for a 7th degree regional polynomial showed a circumscribed negative anomaly coincident with a localized aero-magnetic anomaly and with hydro-thermally altered outcrops, near the city of Itapororoca. The 3D gravity modelling, constrained by geologic mapping was interpreted as a low density, fractured and/or altered material with a most probable volume of approximately 23 km(3), extending to about 8,500 m depth. This result is in accordance with a volcanic body associated with hydrothermal processes accompanied by surface mineralization evidence, which may be of interest to the mining industry.

Accuracy estimation of a new omnidirectional 3D vision sensor

We present a computer vision system that associates omnidirectional vision with structured light with the aim of obtaining depth information for a 360 degrees field of view. The approach proposed in this article combines an omnidirectional camera with a panoramic laser projector. The article shows how the sensor is modelled and its accuracy is proved by means of experimental results. The proposed sensor provides useful information for robot navigation applications, pipe inspection, 3D scene modelling etc

Modelling of calciner in post-combustion carbon capture process

Climate change has given an impetus to research and developed new technologies to reduce significantly carbon dioxide emissions in energy production in the developed countries. The major pollution source, fossil fuels, will be used as an energy source for many decades, which provides the demand for carbon capture and storage technologies. Over recent years many new technologies has been developed and one of the most promising is calcium-looping in post-combustion carbon capture process, which use carbonation-calcination cycle to capture carbon dioxide from the flue gas of a combustion process. First pilot plant for calcium-looping process has been built in Oviedo, Spain. In this study, a three-dimensional model has been created for the calciner, which is one of the two fluidized bed reactors needed for the process. The calciner is a regenerator where the captured carbon dioxide is removed from the calcium material and then collected after the reactor. Thesis concentrates in creating the calciner 3D-model frame with CFB3D-program and testing the model with two different example cases. Used input parameters and calciner geometry are Oviedo pilot plant design parameters. The calculation results give information about the process and show that pilot plant calciner should perform as planned. This Master’s Thesis is done in participation to EU FP7 project CaOling.

Dynamics of Rifting Along the Southwest Continental margin of India Through Coherence and Process oriented Analysis of Gravity Data

Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics,Cochin University of Science and Technology

Accuracy estimation of a new omnidirectional 3D vision sensor

We present a computer vision system that associates omnidirectional vision with structured light with the aim of obtaining depth information for a 360 degrees field of view. The approach proposed in this article combines an omnidirectional camera with a panoramic laser projector. The article shows how the sensor is modelled and its accuracy is proved by means of experimental results. The proposed sensor provides useful information for robot navigation applications, pipe inspection, 3D scene modelling etc

3D scanning by multiple fan beam X-ray sources and sensors

*** Purpose – Computer tomography (CT) for 3D reconstruction entails a huge number of coplanar fan-beam projections for each of a large number of 2D slice images, and excessive radiation intensities and dosages. For some applications its rate of throughput is also inadequate. A technique for overcoming these limitations is outlined. *** Design methodology/approach – A novel method to reconstruct 3D surface models of objects is presented, using, typically, ten, 2D projective images. These images are generated by relative motion between this set of objects and a set of ten fanbeam X-ray sources and sensors, with their viewing axes suitably distributed in 2D angular space. *** Findings – The method entails a radiation dosage several orders of magnitude lower than CT, and requires far less computational power. Experimental results are given to illustrate the capability of the technique *** Practical implications – The substantially lower cost of the method and, more particularly, its dramatically lower irradiation make it relevant to many applications precluded by current techniques *** Originality/value – The method can be used in many applications such as aircraft hold-luggage screening, 3D industrial modelling and measurement, and it should also have important applications to medical diagnosis and surgery.

The persistence of distance: a gravity model of European cross-border real estate development flows

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the scale and drivers of cross-border real estate development in Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe. Design/methodology/approach – Placing cross-border real estate development within the framework of foreign direct investment (FDI), conceptual complexities in characterizing the notional real estate developer are emphasized. Drawing upon a transaction database, this paper proxies cross-border real estate development flows with asset sales by developers. Findings – Much higher levels of market penetration by international real estate developers are found in the less mature markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Analysis suggests a complex range of determinants with physical distance remaining a consistent barrier to cross-border development flows. Originality/value – This analysis adds significant value in terms of understanding cross-border real estate development flows. In this study, a detailed examination of the issues based on a rigorous empirical analysis through gravity modelling is offered. The gravity framework is one of the most confirmed empirical regularities in international economics and commonly applied to trade, FDI, migration, foreign portfolio investment inter alia. This paper assesses the extent to which it provides useful insights into the pattern of cross-border real estate development flows.