We show how hydrogeological models can be created directly from the 3 and 4-dimensional data sets using Radial Basis Function (RBF) models. We develop RBF models for all the components in a hydrogeological model: aquifers, aquitards, boundaries, drains, and rivers. This approach has three significant advantages. Firstly, the models are consistent with the known data and can be automatically updated when new data comes to hand. Secondly, the models can be influenced by both the choice of high level parameters such as anisotropy while maintaining consistency with the data. Thirdly, the user can add manual interpretations (trends or a priori information) that are maintained separately from measurements, but are then merged in the model building process to produce a model consistent with both measured and interpreted data. Once created, the model can be isosurfaced or gridded at any arbitrary resolution or fitted to any mesh, a process that provides a flexible interface to flow simulators.
The methodology will be demonstrated on data from New Zealand and Europe.