Abstract
Optical processing is a fast, easy, economical, and reliable method of quantifying map patterns. A reduced transparency of a zebra-like pattern, obtained by blackening in alternate contour bands of a map, is used as input to an optical system of a laser source and objective lens to produce Fourier transforms. By sampling the intensity distribution across the transform, information about the spatial frequency (periodicity) and orientation in the original map can be inferred. Parameters used for comparing the map images are the values of intensity distribution in the transform. These intensities are normalized and subjected to comparison using various similarity methods. Cross-multiplication of the intensities is suggested as a measure of vectorial comparison of the orientations. By plotting the directional intensities into a polar coordinate system, rose diagrams are prepared for visual comparison. Optically derived parameters are independent of scale and other restrictive and limiting requirements as demanded in techniques of map analyses based on numerically derived parameters. The technique can be used in analyzing other pictorial data including aerial photographs, rock-fabric diagrams, and thin sections.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Cole, V. B., 1962, Configuration of top of Precambrian basement rocks in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 26, map.
Davis, J. C., 1970, Optical processing of microporous fabrics,in Cutbill, J. L., ed., Data processing in biology and geology: Systematics Assoc, Spec. v., no. 3, London, Academic Press, p. 68–86.
Davis, J. C., 1973, Statistics and data analysis in geology: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 550 p.
Davis, J. C, and Preston, F. W., 1972, Optical processing: an alternative to digital computing: Geol. Soc. America, Sp. Paper 146, p. 49–86.
Dobrin, M. B., Ingalls, A. L., and Long, J. A., 1965, Velocity and frequency filtering of seismic data using laser light: Geophysics, v. 30, no. 6, p. 1144–1178.
Egbert, D. D., McCauley, J. R., and McNaughton, J. L., 1973, Ground pattern analysis in the Great Plains: ERTS-A proposal no. 60–8, user investigation report, 108 p.
Goodman, J. W., 1968, Introduction to Fourier optics: McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 286 p.
Jackson, P. L., 1965, Diffractive processing of geophysical data: Applied Optics, v. 4, no. 4, p. 419–427.
Jenkins, F. A., and White, H. E., 1957, Fundamentals of optics: McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 637 p.
Krumbein, W. C., 1966, A comparison of polynomial and Fourier models in map analysis: Tech. Rept. no. 2, ONR Task no. 388-078, Office of Naval Research, Geography Branch, 45 p.
McCullagh, M. J., and Davis, J. C., 1972, Optical analysis of two-dimensional patterns: Annals Assoc. Am. Geographers, v. 62, no. 4, p. 561–577.
Merriam, D. F., 1957, Preliminary regional structural contour map on top of the Dakota Formation (Cretaceous) in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 14, map.
Merriam, D. F., 1958, Preliminary regional structural contour map on top of the Stone Corral Formation (Permian) in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 17, map.
Merriam, D. F., 1970, Preliminary regional structural contour map on top of Mississippian rocks in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 22, map.
Merriam, D. F., and Lippert, R. H., 1966, Geologic model studies using trend-surface analysis: Jour. Geology, v. 74, no. 3, p. 344–357.
Merriam, D. F., and Smith, P., 1961, Preliminary regional structural contour map on top of the Arbuckle Group (Cambrian-Ordovician) in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 25, map.
Merriam, D. F., and Sneath, P. H. A., 1966, Quantitative comparison of contour maps: Jour. Geophysical Res., v. 71, no. 4, p. 1105–1115.
Merriam, D. F., Winchell, R. L., and Atkinson, W. R., 1958, Preliminary regional structural contour map on top of the Lansing Group (Pennsylvanian) in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Oil and Gas Inv. 19, map.
Miller, R. L., 1964, Comparison analysis of trend maps:in Computers in mineral industries: Stanford Univ. Publ., Geol. Sciences, v. 9, p. 669–685.
Papoulis, A., 1968, Systems and transforms with application in optics: McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 474 p.
Pincus, H. J., 1966, Optical processing of vectorial rock fabric data: Internat. Soc. Rock Mechanics, Proc. 1st Internat. Cong., Lisbon, v. 2, p. 173–177.
Pincus, H. J., 1969a, Sensitivity of optical data processing to changes in rock fabrics, Pt. I, Geometric patterns: Intl. Jour. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., v. 6, p. 259–268.
Pincus, H. J., 1969b, Sensitivity of optical data processing to changes in rock fabrics, Pt. II, Standardized grain patterns: Intl. Jour. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., v. 6, p. 269–272.
Pincus, H. J., 1969c, Sensitivity of topical data processing to changes in rock fabrics, Pt. III, Rock fabrics: Intl. Jour. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., v. 6, p. 273–276.
Pincus, H. J., and Ali, S. A., 1968, Optical data processing of sedimentary structures: Jour. Sed. Pet., v. 38, no. 2, p. 457–461.
Pincus, H. J., and Dobrin, M. B., 1966, Optical processing of geological data: Jour. Geophysical Res., v. 71, no. 20, p. 4861–4871.
Pincus, H. J., Power, P. C., Jr., and Woodzick, T., 1973, Analysis of contour maps by optical diffraction: GEOFORUM, 14/73, Wolfsburg, Germany, p. 39–52.
Preston, F. W., Green, D. W., and Davis, J. C., 1970, Numerical characterization of reservoir rock pore structure: Final rept. Am. Petroleum Inst., Res. Proj, no. 103, Univ. Kansas, Center for Research Inc., 98 p.
Rao, S. V. L. N., and Srivastava, G. S., 1967, Comparison of subset trend surfaces by utilization of information theory,in Computer applications in the earth sciences: Colloquium on time-series analysis: Kansas Geol. Survey Computer Contr. 18, p. 62–67.
Rao, S. V. L. N., and Srivastava, G. S., 1969, Comparison regression surfaces in geologic studies: Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., v. 72, no. 1, p. 91–97.
Rayleigh, L., 1896, On the theory of optical images, with special reference to the microscope: Philosophy Mag., v. 5, p. 167.
Robinson, J. E., Charlesworth, H. A. K., and Ellis, M. J., 1969, Structural analysis using spatial filtering in interior plains of south-central Alberta: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 53, no. 11, p. 2341–2367.
Rossi, B., 1957, Optics: Addison-Wesley Publ. Co., Reading, Massachusetts, 510 p.
Shulman, A. R., 1970, Optical data processing: John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, 710 p.
Sokal, R. R., and Sneath, P. H. A., 1963, Principles of numerical taxonomy: W. H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, 359 p.
Srivastava, G. S., 1975, Geoptronics, a term proposed for optical processing of geological data: Jour. Math. Geol., v. 7, no. 2, p. 183–184.
Srivastava, G. S., and Merriam, D. F., 1974, Quantitative comparison of contour maps using optically derived parameters (abst.): Geol. Soc. America Abst., v. 6, no. 7, p. 964–965.
Srivastava, G. S., and Merriam, D. F., 1976, Computer constructed optical-rose diagrams: Computers & Geosciences, v. 1, no. 3, p. 179–186.
Tippet, J. T., Berkowitz, D. A., Clapp, L. O., Koester, C. J., and Vanderbrugh, A., Jr., 1968, Optical and electro-optical information processing: M.I.T. Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 780 p.
Woolard, G. P., 1958, Bouger gravity anomaly map of Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 137, plate 1.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Srivastava, G.S. Optical processing of structural contour maps. Mathematical Geology 9, 3–38 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02312493
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02312493