The Design of Geological Structures Using Bezier Polynomials

构造地质学中的分析方法在许多方面与其他设计领域相类似。例如，地质学家对定量描述变形岩石和结构的三维形态和历史很感兴趣。由于自然系统的复杂性，这类努力的传统方法需要大量的计算机支持，通常超出了大多数研究人员的能力范围。本项目旨在研究贝塞尔构造地质学工具的理论基础和实际应用。由于它们的计算经济，这些工具有可能给这一领域带来革命性的变化，即，结构可以用比传统技术更简单的术语来描述。然而，这些工具的实际实施一直很缓慢，因此没有接触到大量的潜在用户，除了受雇于富有的工业企业的科学家。这项建议旨在审查贝塞尔工具在构造地质学中的效用，并通过开发公共领域软件使这些方法成为主流。

Methods of analysis in structural geology parallel in many ways other fields of design. For example, geologists are interested in describing quantitatively the 3-D form and history of deformed rocks and structures. Because of the complexities of natural systems, conventional methods for such endeavors require massive computer support and are generally beyond most investigators. This project seeks to examine the theoretical basis and practical implementation of Bezier tools for structural geology. Such tools have the potential of revolutionizing this field because of their computational economy, i.e., structures can be described in simpler terms than can conventional techniques. Practical implementation of these tools has been slow, however, and has thus not reached the large pool of potential users, save for scientists employed by well-heeled industrial concerns. This proposal seeks to examine the utility of Bezier tools for structural geology and to bring these methods to the mainstream through the development of public domain software.