Multidimensional scaling and inverse distance weighting transform for image processing of hydrogeological structure in rock mass

A new imaging method based on the multidimensional scaling (MDS) and inverse distance weighting (IDW) transform is proposed in this study. This method aims to identify, characterize and process an image of the preferential flow path in a rock mass, which strongly governs the hydraulic behavior of this rock mass. This methodology uses pair-wise hydraulic diffusivity data from cross-hole hydraulic testing as the input data. The input data are then processed by MDS and IDW to generate a spatial distribution map of the hydraulic properties, which can be used to infer the preferential flow path in the rock mass. The reliability of this novel method was validated through numerical experiments using several continuum models with different hydrogeological structures, and the applicability of the developed method to the actual field was verified through in situ experiments.