BRINGING THE SAN ANDREAS TO COLOMBIA: USE OF OPENSOURCE AIRBORNE LIDAR, TERRESTRIAL LIDAR AND FRACMAN SOFTWARE TO STUDY FAULT AND FRACTURE RELATIONSHIPS

The objective of the Fulbright Colombia collaboration between Central Washington University (USA), Universidad de Caldas (COL), Universidad Nacional de Colombia (Bogota/Manizales) and industry mentors from Golder Associates, Inc. (USA/COL), EcoPetrol, Inc. (COL) and CHEC- Grupo EPM (COL) was to bring students together with industry professionals for more intensive technical training and introduction to new technologies. Collaborators led intensive technology exchange training sessions to introduce the concepts behind, and hands-on experience with, open portal data access to Airborne LiDAR, terrestrial LiDAR Scanner methodology and Landslide Mapping applications, 4D modeling of fluids through fault and fracture networks and geothermal exploration concepts.

The Fulbright Colombia program was based in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia at the Universidad de Caldas. The projects, technology and instruction presented here represent Part II of the discovery-based immersion program and include intensive labs and instruction for LiDAR (Terrestrial and Airborne), Reservoir Modelling, Landslide Mapping, and geothermal exploration. Students worked alongside professionals in the classroom environment and professionals led field-based projects for hands-on training and guidance in field methods, data aquisition and data management.

Through use of open source LiDAR (Open Topography Portal) students were introduced to LiDAR mapping and interpretation of geomorphic features along the San Andreas fault, a system very similar to the regional Romeral Fault system of central Colombia. Students from UCALDAS and Universidad de Los Andes were involved in proposal writing, professional meetings/presentations and TLS data aquisition for a proposed landslide, geohydrology and fracture studies project at El tablazo Landslide. An intensive shortcourse was provided by CWU/Golder and Ecopterol in which industry professionals and students worked on fluid flow and reservoir modeling in fractured environments. Extended program involvement between CWU/UCALDAS/CHEC allowed for direct instruction of undergraduates, graduates and local community stakeholders in the methods and perspectives of geothermal exploration and fractured reservoir modeling.