Digital outcrop modeling and geology information extraction based on ground-based Lidar

Ground-based Lidar (light detection and ranging) can instantly record the 3-dimensional digital outcrop characterization with a high density and high positional accuracy. It is the new method to capture the geological information from outcrop. This paper presents the new methodology for digital outcrop modeling and geology information extraction based on ground-based Lidar. A complete workflow from data acquisition and processing, 3D digital outcrop model building to geology information extraction is discussed. Based on the digital outcrop model, a method of automatic extracting the dip and strike information of structural surface is researched. And a method of automatic lithology classification is studied too. The 3D digital outcrop model has been applied to geological description and analysis in Xinjiang, China.