T hree-dimensional (3-D) basinwide simulation of generation, migration, and accumulation of hydrocarbons has vast potential as an uncertaintyand riskassessment tool in petroleum exploration. To fulfill this potential, several challenges have to be addressed, including the realistic modeling of the evolution of complex geologic structures such as salt diapirs and fault motion. In this chapter, w...

Geologic time is a crucial component of any geoscientist’s training. Essential knowledge of geologic time includes rates of geologic processes and the associated time it takes for geologic features to form, yet measuring conceptual thinking abilities in these domains is challenging. We describe development and initial application of the Landscape Identification and Formation Test (LIFT), a conc...

Geologic interpretation is the process of determining a sequence of geological events that could have caused a particular geologic formation. This paper describes a model for geologic interpretation of sketches, which are collected and represented with our open-domain sketch understanding system, CogSketch. The spatial relations that CogSketch computes are combined with a domain theory for geol...

Elena Nilsen, U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Division Robert Rosenbauer, U.S. Geological Survey, Geologic Division Edward Furlong, U.S. Geological Survey, Methods Research and Development Program Mark Burkhardt, U.S. Geological Survey, Methods Research and Development Program Stephen Werner, U.S. Geological Survey, Methods Research and Development Program Lisa Greaser, U.S. Geological Survey,...

Introduction: Recognition of geologic units on image data is a fundamental analytical step of remote sensing. A single geologic unit could be defined as a region with its own particular features, which represent its origin. The same units have common photogeologi-cal characteristics. Criteria for determining the units are varied between previous and recent researches. In 1960's and 1970's, rese...

Today, 31 countries operate ∼ 450 nuclear power reactors supplying electric power to ∼ 1 billion people,∼ 15% of the world population. Nuclear reactors generate∼ 17% of global electric power needs and a number of industrialized countries depend on nuclear power for at least half of their electricity. In addition, ∼ 30 nuclear power reactors are presently under construction worldwide (Macfarlane...