Geological Modeling and Analysis
Research Guide

Geological Modeling and Analysis is used to convert observations into models that support decisions in areas such as Earth resource management, sedimentary basin interpretation, and rock-mechanics assessment. "Introductory digital image processing: A remote sensing perspective" (1987) explicitly targets Earth resource management using aircraft- and satellite-derived remotely sensed data. Cundall’s "A computer model for simulating progressive, large-scale movements in blocky rock systems" (1971) addresses simulation of large-scale movements in blocky rock systems relevant to geotechnical applications.

Quantitative analysis commonly uses statistical inference, probability models, and multivariate methods to summarize variability and test hypotheses from geologic measurements. "Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology" (1987) describes methods in the quantitative analysis of geologic data and notes expanded coverage of probability and nonparametric statistics. "Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology." (1988) is another highly cited reference for statistical treatment of geologic data.

Remote-sensing-driven geological modeling often begins with digital image processing to transform raw aircraft or satellite measurements into interpretable thematic or quantitative layers. Jensen and Lulla’s "Introductory digital image processing: A remote sensing perspective" (1987) focuses on digital image processing of remotely sensed data for Earth resource management applications. These processed products can then be integrated with field observations and other datasets to support geologic interpretation.

Sedimentary interpretation commonly uses facies analysis and basin-analysis concepts to connect observed deposit characteristics to depositional processes and stratigraphic architecture. "The geology of fluvial deposits: sedimentary facies, basin analysis, and petroleum geology" (1996) frames fluvial deposits as preserved records of major nonmarine environments and connects them to basin analysis and petroleum geology. Bouma, Kuenen, and Shepard’s "Sedimentology of some Flysch deposits : a graphic approach to facies interpretation" (1962) provides a facies-interpretation approach for flysch deposits.

Rock-mass behavior can be analyzed with computational models that simulate the kinematics and progressive movement of blocky rock systems. Cundall’s "A computer model for simulating progressive, large-scale movements in blocky rock systems" (1971) is a canonical example focused on progressive, large-scale movements in blocky rock masses. Such models are used when discontinuities and block interactions dominate deformation and failure behavior.

The most cited items in the provided list include Jensen and Lulla’s "Introductory digital image processing: A remote sensing perspective" (1987) with 5040 citations and Shumway and Davis’s "Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology" (1987) with 4774 citations. Reyment and Davis’s "Statistics and Data Analysis in Geology." (1988) has 4596 citations, and Cundall’s "A computer model for simulating progressive, large-scale movements in blocky rock systems" (1971) has 1923 citations. These works anchor common pipelines spanning observation processing, statistical inference, and mechanistic simulation.