Characterizing Fracture Spatial Patterns by Using Semivariograms

Semivariogram is applied to fracture data obtained from detailed scanline surveys of nine field sites in western New York, USA in order to investigate the spatial patterns of natural fractures. The length of the scanline is up to 36 m. How both fracture spacing and fracture length vary with distance is determined through semivariogram calculations. In this study, the authors developed a FORTRAN program to resample the fracture data from the scanline survey. By calculating experimental semivariogram, the authors found five different types of spatial patterns that can be described by linear, spherical, reversed spherical, polynomial I (for a<0) and polynomial II (for a>0) models, of which the last three are newly proposed in this study. The well-structured semivariograms of fracture spacing and length indicate that both the location of the fractures and the length distribution within their structure domains are not random. The results of this study also suggest that semivariograms can provide useful infor     

Cumulative semivariogram models of regionalized variables

The cumulative semivariogram approach is proposed for modeling regionalized variables in the geological sciences. This semivariogram is defined as the successive summation of half-squared differences which are ranked according to the ascending order of distances extracted from all possible pairs of sample locations within a region. This procedure is useful especially when sampling points are irregularly distributed within the study area. Cumulative semivariograms possess all of the objective properties of classical semivariograms. Classical semivariogram models are evaluated on the basis of the cumulative semivariogram methodology. Model parameter estimation procedures are simplified with the use of arithmetic, semilogarithmic, or double-logarithmic papers. Plots of cumulative semivariogram values vs. corresponding distances may scatter along a straight line on one of these papers, which facilitates model identification as well as parameter estimation. Straight lines are fitted to the cumulative semivariogram scatter diagram by classical linear regression analysis. Finally, applications of the methodology are presented for some groundwater data recorded in the sedimentary basins of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.     

Spectral Corrected Semivariogram Models

Fitting semivariograms with analytical models can be tedious and restrictive. There are many smooth functions that could be used for the semivariogram; however, arbitrary interpolation of the semivariogram will almost certainly create an invalid function. A spectral correction, that is, taking the Fourier transform of the corresponding covariance values, resetting all negative terms to zero, standardizing the spectrum to sum to the sill, and inverse transforming is a valuable method for constructing valid discrete semivariogram models. This paper addresses some important implementation details and provides a methodology to working with spectrally corrected semivariograms.     

Generalized Bootstrap Method for Assessment of?Uncertainty in Semivariogram Inference

The semivariogram and its related function, the covariance, play a central role in classical geostatistics for modeling the average continuity of spatially correlated attributes. Whereas all methods are formulated in terms of the true semivariogram, in practice what can be used are estimated semivariograms and models based on samples. A generalized form of the bootstrap method to properly model spatially correlated data is used to advance knowledge about the reliability of empirical semivariograms and semivariogram models based on a single sample. Among several methods available to generate spatially correlated resamples, we selected a method based on the LU decomposition and used several examples to illustrate the approach. The first one is a synthetic, isotropic, exhaustive sample following a normal distribution, the second example is also a synthetic but following a non-Gaussian random field, and a third empirical sample consists of actual raingauge measurements. Results show wider confidence intervals than those found previously by others with inadequate application of the bootstrap. Also, even for the Gaussian example, distributions for estimated semivariogram values and model parameters are positively skewed. In this sense, bootstrap percentile confidence intervals, which are not centered around the empirical semivariogram and do not require distributional assumptions for its construction, provide an achieved coverage similar to the nominal coverage. The latter cannot be achieved by symmetrical confidence intervals based on the standard error, regardless if the standard error is estimated from a parametric equation or from bootstrap.     

Data analysis of a revisited exploration geochemical dataset of quartz porphyrites from SW Jordan using GIS techniques

The spatial distribution of Cu and its pathfinder elements in quartz porphyrites along Wadi Araba was studied in order to gain an insight about the geologic framework of Cu mineralization in the area. A geochemical exploration data set of 242 samples was revisited. Multivariate statistical and geostatistical analysis were performed on the data set. The objectives of the study were to define Cu relationships with its possible pathfinder elements and to figure out whether geostatistical treatment of exploration data would help telescoping already existing Cu mineralization in Wadi Araba, SW Jordan. Factor analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis were performed on the data set. The results of which indicate that seven elements, namely, Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni, Sc, Sr and V can be considered as pathfinder elements for Cu. Significant correlations do exist between Cu and these elements. The encountered experimental semivariograms of the defined pathfinders were fit to exponential models with varying nugget effects with the exception of Mn which was fit to the spherical model. Ordinary kriging was found to be most appropriate to generate geochemical exploration maps. The applied methods succeeded in deriving valuable information and visualizing the already existing Cu mineralization in Wadi Abu Khusheiba area.     

Spatial analyses of groundwater levels using universal kriging

For water levels, generally a non-stationary variable, the technique of universal kriging is applied in preference to ordinary kriging as the interpolation method. Each set of data in every sector can fit different empirical semivariogram models since they have different spatial structures. These models can be classified as circular, spherical, tetraspherical, pentaspherical, exponential, gaussian, rational quadratic, hole effect, K-bessel, J-bessel and stable. This study aims to determine which of these empirical semivariogram models will be best matched with the experimental models obtained from groundwater-table values collected from Mustafakemalpasa left bank irrigation scheme in 2002. The model having the least error was selected by comparing the observed water-table values with the values predicted by empirical semivariogram models. It was determined that the rational quadratic empirical semivariogram model is the best fitted model for the studied irrigation area.     

A parametric study of robustness of kriging variance as a function of range and relative nugget effect for a spherical semivariogram

In geostatistics, an estimation of blocks of a deposit is reported along with the variance of error made in their estimation. This calculation is based on the model chosen for the semivariogram of the deposit so that mistakes in its estimation can manifest themselves in the perception of accuracy with which blocks are known. Changes in kriging variance resulting from various amounts of error in modeling the relative nugget effect and range of the semivariogram are investigated for an extensive set of spherical semivariograms.     

Fractal properties of simulated bed profiles in coarse-grained channels

Bed roughness characteristics in coarse-grained channels are fairly complex. A hierarchy of roughness elements can be observed, ranging from variable particle sizes and shapes and small-scale sedimentary structures, to large-scale bedforms such as riffle-pool sequences. The effects of these scales of roughness on the flow geometry still remain to be thoroughly investigated. The semivariogram has been suggested in the past as a means of quantifying bed roughness effects on streamflow, as well as for distinguishing between scales of roughness. However, field measurements are rather time-consuming. The low number of bed profiles measured in the field precludes the identification of generally applicable relationships between the statistical properties derived from the semivariograms (such as the Hausdorff dimensions and the scale of autocorrelation corresponding to each fractal band) and the bed configuration itself (geometrical and sedimentological properties). Simulation results of gravel-bed profiles are, therefore, presented in order to complement the original investigation of Robert (1988a). The simulation experiments, based on grain characteristics of sizes and shapes and on morphological properties of small-scale bedforms, yield very significant information on boundary roughness at the microscale and give insight into the interpretation of empirical semivariograms (derived from field measurements). Bed-material sorting, variable grain shapes, and height and spacing of cluster bedforms control the fractal dimensions obtained from the semivariograms, as well as the location of the break of slope and the range of the process.     

Kriging and Semivariogram Deconvolution in the Presence of Irregular Geographical Units

This paper presents a methodology to conduct geostatistical variography and interpolation on areal data measured over geographical units (or blocks) with different sizes and shapes, while accounting for heterogeneous weight or kernel functions within those units. The deconvolution method is iterative and seeks the point-support model that minimizes the difference between the theoretically regularized semivariogram model and the model fitted to areal data. This model is then used in area-to-point (ATP) kriging to map the spatial distribution of the attribute of interest within each geographical unit. The coherence constraint ensures that the weighted average of kriged estimates equals the areal datum.This approach is illustrated using health data (cancer rates aggregated at the county level) and population density surface as a kernel function. Simulations are conducted over two regions with contrasting county geographies: the state of Indiana and four states in the Western United States. In both regions, the deconvolution approach yields a point support semivariogram model that is reasonably close to the semivariogram of simulated point values. The use of this model in ATP kriging yields a more accurate prediction than a naïve point kriging of areal data that simply collapses each county into its geographic centroid. ATP kriging reduces the smoothing effect and is robust with respect to small differences in the point support semivariogram model. Important features of the point-support semivariogram, such as the nugget effect, can never be fully validated from areal data. The user may want to narrow down the set of solutions based on his knowledge of the phenomenon (e.g., set the nugget effect to zero). The approach presented avoids the visual bias associated with the interpretation of choropleth maps and should facilitate the analysis of relationships between variables measured over different spatial supports.     

Kriging and Semivariogram Deconvolution in the Presence of Irregular Geographical Units

This paper presents a methodology to conduct geostatistical variography and interpolation on areal data measured over geographical units (or blocks) with different sizes and shapes, while accounting for heterogeneous weight or kernel functions within those units. The deconvolution method is iterative and seeks the pointsupport model that minimizes the difference between the theoretically regularized semivariogram model and the model fitted to areal data. This model is then used in area-to-point (ATP) kriging to map the spatial distribution of the attribute of interest within each geographical unit. The coherence constraint ensures that the weighted average of kriged estimates equals the areal datum.This approach is illustrated using health data (cancer rates aggregated at the county level) and population density surface as a kernel function. Simulations are conducted over two regions with contrasting county geographies: the state of Indiana and four states in the Western United States. In both regions, the deconvolution approach yields a point support semivariogram model that is reasonably close to the semivariogram of simulated point values. The use of this model in ATP kriging yields a more accurate prediction than a na?ve point kriging of areal data that simply collapses each county into its geographic centroid. ATP kriging reduces the smoothing effect and is robust with respect to small differences in the point support semivariogram model. Important features of the point-support semivariogram, such as the nugget effect, can never be fully validated from areal data. The user may want to narrow down the set of solutions based on his knowledge of the phenomenon (e.g., set the nugget effect to zero). The approach presented avoids the visual bias associated with the interpretation of choropleth maps and should facilitate the analysis of relationships between variables measured over different spatial supports.     

基于地统计学的路基连续压实均匀性评价

传统的路基压实质量均匀性评价方法均基于变异系数等概率统计指标,未能考虑检测数据的空间分布特性,难以准确评价路基压实质量的不均匀性。基于地统计学理论,建立半变异函数模型描述连续压实检测数据的空间变异性,采用指数模型对半变异函数曲线进行最优拟合,并提出偏基台值C作为路基压实均匀性控制指标。分别采用地统计方法与传统数理统计法对沪昆客运专线芷江试验段的路基进行压实均匀性评价。结果表明：在压路机振动频率波动或存在压实薄弱区域的情况下,与传统数理统计指标变异系数Cv相比,地统计指标C可消除系统误差等随机性因素对均匀性评价结果的影响,更能客观反映不同工况下的填筑土体在空间上的不均匀压实状态,其结果为铁路路基压实均匀性评价提供了新的思路。     

Extending Multivariate Space-Time Geostatistics for Environmental Data Analysis

Environmental studies require multivariate data such as chemical concentrations with space-time coordinates. There are two general conditions related to such data: the existence of correlations among the coregionalized variables and the differences in numbers of data which occur because of insufficient data caused by measurement error or bad weather conditions. This study proposes geostatistical techniques for space-time multivariate modeling that take into consideration these correlations and data absences. These techniques consist of suitable modeling of semivariograms and cross-semivariograms for quantifying correlation structures among multivariables and of extending standardized ordinary cokriging. The tensor product cubic smoothing surface method is used for space-time semivariogram modeling. These methods are applied to the chemical component data of the Ariake Sea, a typical closed sea in southwest Japan. In order to clarify environmental changes in the Ariake Sea, the concentration data of four nutritive salts (NO₂–N, NO₃–N, NH₄–N, and PO₄–P) at 38 stations over 25 years are used as environmental indicators. For each of the kinds of data, there are spaces and times for which there is no data available. The effectiveness of the modeling of space-time semivariograms and the high estimation capability of the extended cokriging are demonstrated by cross-validation. Compared with ordinary kriging for a single variable, multivariate space-time standardized ordinary cokriging can provide a more detailed concentration map of nutritive salts and while elucidating their temporal changes over sparsely spaced data areas. In the space-time models by ordinary kriging, on the other hand, smooth trends are obvious.     

Fitting the Linear Model of Coregionalization by Generalized Least Squares

In geostatistical studies, the fitting of the linear model of coregionalization (LMC) to direct and cross experimental semivariograms is usually performed with a weighted least-squares (WLS) procedure based on the number of pairs of observations at each lag. So far, no study has investigated the efficiency of other least-squares procedures, such as ordinary least squares (OLS), generalized least squares (GLS), and WLS with other weighing functions, in the context of the LMC. In this article, we compare the statistical properties of the sill estimators obtained with eight least-squares procedures for fitting the LMC: OLS, four WLS, and three GLS. The WLS procedures are based on approximations of the variance of semivariogram estimates at each distance lag. The GLS procedures use a variance–covariance matrix of semivariogram estimates that is (i) estimated using the fourth-order moments with sill estimates (GLS₁), (ii) calculated using the fourth-order moments with the theoretical sills (GLS₂), and (iii) based on an approximation using the correlation between semivariogram estimates in the case of spatial independence of the observations (GLS₃). The current algorithm for fitting the LMC by WLS while ensuring the positive semidefiniteness of sill matrix estimates is modified to include any least-squares procedure. A Monte Carlo study is performed for 16 scenarios corresponding to different combinations of the number of variables, number of spatial structures, values of ranges, and scale dependence of the correlations among variables. Simulation results show that the mean square error is accounted for mostly by the variance of the sill estimators instead of their squared bias. Overall, the estimated GLS₁ and theoretical GLS₂ are the most efficient, followed by the WLS procedure that is based on the number of pairs of observations and the average distance at each lag. On that basis, GLS₁ can be recommended for future studies using the LMC.     

非饱和水分运动参数空间变异与最优估值研究

以野外砂壤土30m×30m空间的实测土壤参数试验为基础,通过对实测数据的统计分析得到饱和水力传导度KS及容水度C遵从正态分布,而孔隙大小分布参数α遵从对数正态分布。应用变差函数对参数KS和α的空间结构进行分析得到两参数的空间结构可用球状变差函数模型进行描述。根据Kriging最优估值理论,分别对两参数空间的值进行了估计,结果表明本研究的野外实测试验点的数目减少26%即可满足精度要求,同时与克立格方法相比采用协克立格方法对参数lnα进行估计,其估计方差平均减少6.87%。     

Fractal and geostatistical methods for modeling of a fracture network

The modeling of fracture networks is useful for fluid flow and rock mechanics studies. About 6600 fracture traces were recorded on drifts of a uranium mine in a granite massif. The traces have an extension of 0.20–20 m. The network was studied by fractal and by geostatistical methods but can be considered neither as a fractal with a constant dimension nor a set of purely randomly located fractures. Two kinds of generalization of conventional models can still provide more flexibility for the characterization of the network: (a) a nonscaling fractal model with variable similarity dimension (for a 2-D network of traces, the dimension varying from 2 for the 10-m scale to 1 for the centimeter scale, (b) a parent-daughter model with a regionalized density; the geostatistical study allows a 3-D model to be established where: fractures are assumed to be discs; fractures are grouped in clusters or swarms; and fracturation density is regionalized (with two ranges at about 30 and 300 m). The fractal model is easy to fit and to simulate along a line, but 2-D and 3-D simulations are more difficult. The geostatistical model is more complex, but easy to simulate, even in 3-D.This paper was presented at Emerging Concepts, MGUS-87 Conference, Redwood City, California, 13–15 April 1987.     

Bayesian Modeling and Inference for Geometrically Anisotropic Spatial Data

A geometrically anisotropic spatial process can be viewed as being a linear transformation of an isotropic spatial process. Customary semivariogram estimation techniques often involve ad hoc selection of the linear transformation to reduce the region to isotropy and then fitting a valid parametric semivariogram to the data under the transformed coordinates. We propose a Bayesian methodology which simultaneously estimates the linear transformation and the other semivariogram parameters. In addition, the Bayesian paradigm allows full inference for any characteristic of the geometrically anisotropic model rather than merely providing a point estimate. Our work is motivated by a dataset of scallop catches in the Atlantic Ocean in 1990 and also in 1993. The 1990 data provide useful prior information about the nature of the anisotropy of the process. Exploratory data analysis (EDA) techniques such as directional empirical semivariograms and the rose diagram are widely used by practitioners. We recommend a suitable contour plot to detect departures from isotropy. We then present a fully Bayesian analysis of the 1993 scallop data, demonstrating the range of inferential possibilities.     

变异函数中指数,高斯模型的拟合

本文探讨了用积分变换拟合指数模型和高斯模型，对实现过程的关键细节进行了深入的分析。最后用实例证明了该方法的可行性。     

Estimation of semivariograms by the maximum entropy method

A wide variety of semivariograms may be represented in terms of a first- or second-order autoregressive (AR) process, and the nugget effect may be included by use of a moving average (MA) process. The weighting parameters for these models have a simple functional dependence on the value of the sill and the semivariance at the first and second lag. These may be estimated either graphically from the semivariogram or directly from the computed values. Improved spectral estimates of geophysical data have been obtained by the use of the maximum entropy method, and the necessary equations were adapted here for the estimation of the weighting parameters of the AR and the MA processes. Comparison among the semivariograms obtained for the ideal case, the observed case, and the estimated case for artificial series show excellent correspondence between the ideal and estimated while the observed semivariogram may show marked divergence.     

The Impact of Biased Sampling on the Estimation of the Semivariogram Within Fractured Media Containing Multiple Fracture Sets

Monte Carlo simulation was used to examine the error (statistical bias) introduced in estimating a sample semivariogram through application of oriented sampling patterns to variables which are correlated with fracture orientation. Sample semivariograms of the directional components of the water velocity were used to illustrate that oriented sampling schemes can provide biased data sets which result in error in the estimation of the semivariogram, particularly in the estimation of the sill (or variance). Three sampling patterns were used to analyze directional semivariograms of the components of the fluid velocity: sampling along lines parallel to the mean regional hydraulic gradient, sampling among lines perpendicular to the mean regional hydraulic gradient, and sampling along fracture segments. The first two sampling patterns were shown to introduce substantial error in the sills of the velocity variograms. It is argued that this error is due to the combination of unequal sampling of fractures with different orientations (i.e., sampling bias) and the systematic variation in the magnitude of the velocity components with orientation of the fracture. As a consequence, it is suggested that correction factors developed to correct fracture frequency statistics need to be extended to improve estimation of spatial moments of variables which are correlated with fracture orientation.