Interactive Three-Dimensional Display of Simulated Sedimentary Basins

Abstract

Simulated sedimentary basins that are represented by volumetric data obtained from a numerical model are visualized by

• a set of isochron sediment surfaces,

• a lattice of vertical sections,

• basement topography, and

• water body.

Sediment surfaces and sections are color-coded to represent sediment composition in alternative ways, including sediment type and sediment age. It is possible to interactively

• show or hide any portion of the basin,

• rotate, resize, and vertically exaggerate the basin,

• highlight a sediment type,

• show basin evolution through time, and

• switch sediment classification methods.

Two viewing programs implemented on top of two different graphics systems (Doré[2] and GL[1]) are described and compared. One viewing application is built from a set of independent but cooperating programs that provide graphic functions and a user interface under X-Windows.