CAREER: Imaging and Visualization Technologies for Geotechnical/Geoenvironmental Site Characterization

该职业奖支持的研究导致了一种新的方法和建模技术的发展，用于执行岩土工程和地质环境现场表征。首席研究员将在先前开发的视觉锥穿透仪（viscone Penetrometer，简称vispt）系统的基础上进行构建，该系统能够实时捕获和记录地下材料的连续视频图像。该研究将开发一套图像处理和分析程序，用于定性可视化（包括在低倍和高倍放大下显示的虚拟标本）和定量表征（包括开发土壤图像分类系统，该系统可以识别难以使用现有方法检测的地下地层单位）。复杂的图像处理和分析算法，如纹理分类和小波分割，共现方法等，将应用于土壤表征。将创建一个三维的“地球科学建模环境”，用于可视化从各种测量中获得的现场数据。这个项目的教育目标是开发一门课程，强调现场调查和工程问题特征的重要性。将开发一种新的灵活课程模块，包括综合计算机方法和现场表征，可用于培训不同教育水平的学生。针对处于不同智力发展阶段的学生，开发新颖、刺激、有教育意义的体验，对于吸引代表性不足的群体进入科学和工程领域至关重要。计算机程序的理论和应用将通过分析几个真实或模拟的历史案例来检验。不确定性对设计和分析的影响将被强调。

This CAREER award supports research leading to the development of a new methodology and modeling techniques for performing geotechnical and geo-environmental site characterizations. The Principal Investigator will build on the previously developed Vision Cone Penetrometer (VisCPT) system capable of capturing and recording continuous video images of the subsurface materials in real time. This research will develop a suite of image processing and analysis programs for both qualitative visualization (including virtual specimens shown at low and high magnification) and quantitative characterization (including development of a Soil Image Classification system that can identify subsurface stratigraphic units difficult to detect using existing methods). Sophisticated image processing and analysis algorithms, such as texture classification and segmentation using wavelets, co-occurrence approaches, etc., will be applied for soil characterization. A three-dimensional `Geoscience Modeling Environment` will be created for visualizing site data obtained from various measurements. The educational objective for this project is to develop a curriculum that emphasizes the importance of site investigation and characterization for engineering problems. A new, flexible course module, including integrated computer methods, on site characterization will be developed that can be adapted for training students at various educational levels. Development of novel, stimulating, educational experiences, which are targeted to students at different stages of intellectual development, is essential to attracting underrepresented groups into science and engineering. The theory and application of the computer programs will be examined through analysis of several real or simulated case histories. The impact of uncertainty on design and analysis will be stressed.