空间信息技术的发展及其在地球科学中的应用

DEVELOPMENT OF SPATIAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN GEOSCIENCES

空间信息技术有两个分支：其一是空间图形信息技术，即地理信息系统（ＧＩＳ）；其二是地质统计学。两种技术在本质上是相通的。ＧＩＳ的核心是建立图形元素的拓扑关系与建立空间数据库与属性数据库的联动关系。正是立足于这两个重要关系，使对千变万化的地学图形信息进行灵活高效的编辑、检索与显示成为可能。在迄今为止所有的计算机应用系统中，ＧＩＳ无疑将在地学中产生最重要的影响。地质统计学是一种空间数字处理技术，它是传统统计学的空间版本。用包含多元统计学的传统统计方法研究地质问题存在严重的缺陷，因为传统统计学忽略变量的空间存在，而地质过程具有强烈的空间性。地质统计学恰恰是立足于变量的空间关系发展起来的统计科学，因此它特别适用于地球科学。正如空间图形与空间数字可以相互转换一样，两种空间信息技术也存在内在的关系。利用ＧＩＳ与地质统计学这两种空间信息技术，使我们能不断地在空间图形与空间数字这两种状态间穿越。空间信息技术为地质学家在进行矿产资源预测、物化遥数据分析、地质环境评价、地质灾害评价与矿产资源管理等方面提供了强有力的工具。空间信息技术特别适合于地球科学，它不仅能大幅度地提高地球科学对图形的编制和研究的效率和水平，而且也将转变传统的?

There are two branches of spatial information technology: one is related to spatial mapping for which the tool is GIS, the other is related to numerical data processing for which the tool is geostatistics. These two spatial techniques can be connected with each other to solve most of the spatially defined geoscientific problems. The kernel of GIS is to establish topology of mapping elements and relationship between spatial and attributive information. It is based on these two important points that make it possible to compile, retrieve and display many and varied mapping and corresponding information of geosciences flexibly and efficiently. In comparison with all of the other existing applied computer systems in geosciences, GIS is thought the most suitable and attractive one. Geostatistics is a technique processing spatial data which is, in fact, a spatial version of traditional statistics. It is noted that there is a critical problem for applications of traditional statistics, including multivariate statistics, in geosciences because traditional statistics ignores spatiality of variables which is a strong nature of geoscientific processes. Geostatistics is developed based on spatiality of variables so that it is suitable for geosciences. As transformation can be made between mapping and numerical information, two spatial information techniques have intrinsic relationship. Using both GIS and geostatistics enable geoscientists to access and process spatial information in both states, mapping and numerical. Spatial information technology provides sophisticated and powerful approaches to mineral resources appraisal, geophysical, geochemical and remote sensing data processing, geo environment and geo hazard assessment, and so on. Spatial information technology is specially suited to geosciences. It not only can be used to increase the efficiency of geoscientific mapping and data processing, but also would change the concepts on maps of geosciences that would exerts an extensive influence on various fields of geosciences.