EXPLICIT, IMPLICIT AND AI-BASED MODELING IN GEOLOGY: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND INTEGRATION PROSPECTS

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30970/vgl.40.09

Keywords:

geological modeling, explicit modeling, implicit modeling, artificial intelligence, AI-based modeling, three-dimensional geological models, geological data interpretation, mineral deposit modeling

Abstract

Geological 3D modeling is one of the key stages in the interpretation of geophysical and geological data, enabling the creation of a three-dimensional representation of deposit structure, the size and depth of geological bodies, and the patterns of mineral distribution. In the context of rapid digitalization and the growing volume of geoscientific data, there is an increasing need to compare traditional and modern modeling approaches, particularly in terms of their effectiveness in interpreting geological research results. This study presents a comparative analysis of explicit and implicit approaches, and also demonstrates the potential of AI algorithms (artificial intelligence algorithms) for automating and optimizing the modeling process. Special attention is given to differences in methods of interpreting geophysical and geological data, the level of geologist involvement in model construction, as well as the speed and reliability of building geological surfaces and volumetric structures. The advantages and limitations of each approach are analyzed in the context of their application within modern geological modeling software environments (explicit modeling – Micromine, Surpac, Leapfrog Geo; implicit modeling – RBF (Radial Basis Function), Kriging, PFI (Potential Field Interpolation), Spline; AI modeling – SVM (Support Vector Machine), k-NN (k-Nearest Neighbors), Naive Bayes classifier, Gradient Boosting, Gaussian Processes, CNN (Convolutional Neural Network), LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory)). The study substantiates the feasibility of integrating different approaches within a unified geological modeling workflow. The combination of expert geological interpretation, algorithmic surface construction methods, and artificial intelligence tools improves the accuracy of geological models, reduces modeling time, and enhances the prediction of geological object locations. Such an integrated approach is considered a promising direction for the development of digital geology and 3D geological modeling of mineral deposits.

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Рис. 1. Інтерпольована поверхня шляхом використання RBF. URL: https://cdn.comsol.com/wordpress/2016/03/Surface-interpolation.png (дата звернення: 16.03.2026).

Рис. 2. Інтерпольована поверхня шляхом використання Kriging з обчисленою похибкою. URL: https://gisgeography.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/kriging-results.png (дата звернення: 17.03.2026).

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Published

2026-05-29