Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2004
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2004
08 Jul 2024
 | 08 Jul 2024

Broken Terrains v. 1.0: A supervised detection of fault-related lineaments on geological terrains

Michał Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel

Abstract. The study presents a novel approach for fault detection on geological terrains using supervised learning algorithm and careful variable selection. Synthetic faulted terrains are generated using Delaunay triangulation via the Computational Geometry Algorithms Library (CGAL) allowing for adjustments of parameters. We introduce 24 variables, including local geometric features and neighborhood analysis, for classification. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is employed as the classification algorithm, achieving high precision and recall rates for fault-related observations. Application to real borehole data demonstrates the effectiveness of the method in detecting fault orientations, the challenges remain with respect to distinguishing faults with opposite dip directions. The study highlights the need to address 3D fault zone complexities and their identification. Despite limitations, the proposed supervised approach offers significant advancement over clustering-based methods, showing promise in detecting faults of various orientations. Future research directions include exploring more complex geological scenarios and refining fault detection methodologies.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Jul 2025
SubsurfaceBreaks v. 1.0: a supervised detection of fault-related structures on triangulated models of subsurface homoclinal interfaces
Michał P. Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 4469–4481, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4469-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4469-2025, 2025
Short summary
Michał Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2004', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Aug 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michal Michalak, 09 Aug 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC1', Michal Michalak, 27 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2004', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Aug 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michal Michalak, 27 Aug 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2004', Anonymous Referee #1, 08 Aug 2024
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', Michal Michalak, 09 Aug 2024
    • AC3: 'Reply on RC1', Michal Michalak, 27 Aug 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2024-2004', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Aug 2024
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', Michal Michalak, 27 Aug 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Michal Michalak on behalf of the Authors (03 Sep 2024)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (24 Dec 2024) by Andy Wickert
AR by Michal Michalak on behalf of the Authors (15 Jan 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (16 Jan 2025) by Andy Wickert
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (03 Feb 2025)
RR by Anonymous Referee #4 (08 Feb 2025)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (11 Feb 2025) by Andy Wickert
AR by Michal Michalak on behalf of the Authors (15 Feb 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (17 Feb 2025) by Andy Wickert
RR by Anonymous Referee #3 (03 Mar 2025)
ED: Publish subject to technical corrections (08 May 2025) by Andy Wickert
AR by Michal Michalak on behalf of the Authors (09 May 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

23 Jul 2025
SubsurfaceBreaks v. 1.0: a supervised detection of fault-related structures on triangulated models of subsurface homoclinal interfaces
Michał P. Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel
Geosci. Model Dev., 18, 4469–4481, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4469-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-18-4469-2025, 2025
Short summary
Michał Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel

Model code and software

BrokenTerrains Michał Michalak https://github.com/michalmichalak997/BrokenTerrains/blob/main/README.md

Michał Michalak, Christian Gerhards, and Peter Menzel

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Short summary
This study presents a novel method for fault detection on geological terrains. Using synthetic models, we applied machine learning to classify terrain shape and nearby features. Testing on real borehole data validated its effectiveness across various fault orientations. The supervised approach represents a significant improvement over older methods that relied on simpler clustering techniques which were capable of identifying less orientations of faults.
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