Geological and Geochemical Models
This methodological research topic is used to integrate observations and pluridisciplinary measurements in unified geometrical and phenomenological computer models which are necessary for the quantification and forecasting of hydraulic, petrophysical, static and dynamic mechanical properties.
Digital simulations are used to understand, reproduce and predict physical and geological processes using thermo-hydro-mechano-chemical modelling at various time and space scales.
The general issues concern the characterisation and accommodation of uncertainties, a balance between model effectiveness and complexity with respect to the requirements, identification of characteristic scales and scale-transformations as well as formal questions concerning the choice of parameterisation and ontology used to describe objects and natural phenomena which have a direct impact on information-processing methods.
These issues concerning the geological and digital characterisation of the natural environment and inverse approach are completely complementary with that described by “hydrogeomechanics” which places emphasis on the understanding and characterisation of physical processes.
The topic-based team has extensive experience and expertise in the field, which has led to, alongside its many publications, the generation of a number of software packages, such as Resoblock and Skua-Gocad (currently marketed by an industrial partner), and the development of an original model for industrial partnership within the framework of a Consortium.
The team policy is to develop “plugins” for existing software as well as stand-alone software which will facilitate more effective analyses and dissemination of scientific knowledge while limiting the need for extensive maintenance.