Synthesizing Geologically Coherent Cave Networks

Axel Paris and Adrien Peytavie and Eric Guérin and Pauline Collon and Eric Galin. ( 2021 )
in: Computer Graphics Forum

Abstract

We present a geologically-based method to generate complex karstic networks. Karsts are a type of landscape formed by the dissolution of highly soluble rocks (generally limestones). In particular, they are characterized by complex underground networks made of varieties of tunnels and breakout chambers with stalagmites and stalactites. Our method computes skeletons of karstic networks by using a gridless anisotropic shortest path algorithm according to field data of the underground system (such as inlets and outlets), geomorphological features and parameters such as faults, inception horizons, fractures, and permeability contrasts. From this skeleton, we define the geometry of the conduits as a signed distance function construction tree combining primitives with blending and warping operators. Our framework provides multiple levels of control, allowing us to author both the structure of the karstic network and the geometric cross-section shapes and details of the generated conduits.

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BibTeX Reference

@article{paris:hal-03331697,
 abstract = {We present a geologically-based method to generate complex karstic networks. Karsts are a type of landscape formed by the dissolution of highly soluble rocks (generally limestones). In particular, they are characterized by complex underground networks made of varieties of tunnels and breakout chambers with stalagmites and stalactites. Our method computes skeletons of karstic networks by using a gridless anisotropic shortest path algorithm according to field data of the underground system (such as inlets and outlets), geomorphological features and parameters such as faults, inception horizons, fractures, and permeability contrasts. From this skeleton, we define the geometry of the conduits as a signed distance function construction tree combining primitives with blending and warping operators. Our framework provides multiple levels of control, allowing us to author both the structure of the karstic network and the geometric cross-section shapes and details of the generated conduits.},
 author = {Paris, Axel and Peytavie, Adrien and Gu{\'e}rin, Eric and Collon, Pauline and Galin, Eric},
 doi = {10.1111/cgf.14420},
 hal_id = {hal-03331697},
 hal_version = {v2},
 journal = {{Computer Graphics Forum}},
 keywords = {Procedural modeling ; implicit surfaces ; karstic networks ; caves},
 pdf = {https://hal.science/hal-03331697v2/file/2021-caves-author.pdf},
 publisher = {{Wiley}},
 title = {{Synthesizing Geologically Coherent Cave Networks}},
 url = {https://hal.science/hal-03331697},
 year = {2021}
}