Geostatistical modelling applied to the elaboration of geological models

Abstract

Geological studies are extremely important when it comes to the development of civil engineering projects, since after defining the guideline of a linear project, either a channel or a tunnel, it becomes necessary to know the geological and geotechnical characteristics, depths and categories of materials, in the case when these projects involve excavations. In order to obtain such information, direct and/or indirect geological and geotechnical investigations are executed only along the axis of the project due to their high cost and time of execution, even if the earthwork operations are extending beyond the axis investigated. In this context, this paper proposes to perform a geostatistical modeling using cokriging in order to determine the contact surfaces between the different classes of materials, taking into account the classification of materials into excavation categories. In possession of the surfaces it was possible to develop a three-dimensional model, a longitudinal profile and cross sections, showing the variability of the thickness of the materials generated by the model, capable of guiding plans for future investigations and / or assist in the development of projects.