Glenn Chubak

Integrated software framework for processing of geophysical data

We present an integrated software framework for geophysical data processing, based on an updated seismic data processing program package originally developed at the Program for Crustal Studies at the University of Wyoming. Unlike other systems, this processing monitor supports structured multi-component seismic data streams, multi-dimensional data traces, and employs a unique backpropagation execution logic. This results in an unusual flexibility of processing, allowing the system to handle nearly any geophysical data. A modern and feature-rich graphical user interface (GUI) was developed for the system, allowing editing and submission of processing flows and interaction with running jobs. Multiple jobs can be executed in a distributed multi-processor networks and controlled from the same GUI. Jobs, in their turn, can also be parallelized to take advantage of parallel processing environments, such as local area networks and Beowulf clusters.

Interactive 3D/2D visualization for geophysical data processing and interpretation

A new 3D/2D interactive display server was developed for the IGeoS geophysical data processing framework presented earlier. With introduction of this major component, the framework becomes conceptually complete and potentially bridges the gap between traditional processing and interpretation geophysical software. The display server utilizes Qt toolkit and OpenGL graphics libraries while taking advantage of the object-oriented design of the core data processing system. It operates by creating image object trees that are automatically propagated to the server(s) residing on the same or remote hosts and producing complex, structured, and interactive data displays. The displays support custom interactive graphical user interfaces, which are constructed entirely by the user and do not require computer coding. With over 200 specialized processing tools available, this approach allows creating 3D visualizations and building custom interactive data analysis, interpretation, and modeling tools in many areas of application. In particular, we show examples of integration of seismic ray tracing, gravity, and receiver function modeling and inversion in deep crustal studies.

Short note: Automated maintenance of geophysical software from distributed web repositories

As in most computationally intensive disciplines, geophysical data analysis involves numerous algorithms. Large volumes of code have been created, including complex multi-function processing systems, which are particularly well developed in reflection seismology (Stockwell, 1999). In most cases, data management, processing, or modeling operations can be subdivided into smaller tasks (e.g., input/output, or some filtering), whose code could be standardized and reused. Ideally, good solutions to problems should be implemented once in a generic fashion so that others could benefit from them. Two critical issues arise in the development of such a general processing system: (a) a versatile code integration protocol and a common processing environment suitable for its use in different applications are required, and (b) with growing body of software, code maintenance tools are needed. Topic (a) above was recently discussed by Chubak and Morozov (2006); in this note, we describe the development of topic (b) in our geophysical data processing system. Within the academic community, the development of computer code is still generally performed