Laboratory of geoinformatics is created to develop new approaches for processing ofbig volumes of complex geophysical information in terms of methods of artificial intellect (AI). Provisions are made for the development of new mathematical approaches and adaptation of the existing methods of AI for the solution of geophysical problems, and also for carrying out actual geophysical research based on new methods of data analysis.

Actuality of the course of research.

The present stage of development of gephysics is characterized by transition from general models largely based on the use of physical generalities, to models describing specific geophysical objects and structures. When creating general models, the aim was to understand the major laws of development of geophysical systems and phenomena. Up-to-date models are more detailed, and they are aimed at description of specific geophysical systems. Development of such models is based, apart from the general physical laws, on the use of big volumes of information about objects of investigation. Volumes of information are especially big when using data of areal remote sensing sounding.

Objects of geophysical investigation are likely to have complex internal structure, and vary with time. For such objects criteria of recurrence of conditions of an experiment might not be satisfied. This results in a certain common characterof methodical approaches between geology and geophysics, and areas of humanitarian knowledge, where considerable fuzziness of concepts and characteristics appliedexists, and also there is a great role of hardly formulized opinion of individual experts.

Fuzzy information is usually processed by experts. However, due to a huge volume of original data, such decision could be practically unrealizable. As a result, the problem arises of automatic analysis of big volume of factual information when there is a lack of criteria and features of research objects, fully clearly and definitely  formulated. Methods of artificial intellect, including expert systems and algorithms of data processing in terms of fuzzy logic, are used for the solution of such problems. One of important tasks in this respect is formulation and recognition of images, which reflect, in contraction, major features of objects under investigation. Methods of clustering and morphology analysis are developed and used for the solution of such problems. In a sense, a problem with an opposite definition presupposes apportionment anomalies of one or another required form.

Comparison of results obtained using methods of AI with results of the use of classical (e.g. statistical) methods was made. Given experience allows to suggest that methods of artificial intellect prove to be more efficient when there is a certain lack of factual information and/or when processing signals organized in a more complex way.  In such cases classical methods give less robust results. On the contrary, classical statistical methods prove to be more efficient when there is sufficient volume of data for statistical processing (this is connected with greater simplicity of realization and greater certainty of results obtained).

Major achievements of the laboratory.

• Development of approaches for  application of fuzzy logic and methods of geostatistics, development of algorithms of data analysis conforming to such approach;
• Probation and adaptation of algorithms developed is done with the purpose of investigation of different geophysical processes and natural catastrophes and their impact on  society;
• Algorithms of data generalization based on clustering and methods of morphology analysis are created and realized in the lab software. Algorithms are used for processing complex spatially distributed geophysical data with the purpose of identification of uniform areas and boundary zones. Algorithms were used for identification of uniform blocks and disturbances of different sorts due to the results of data from detailed magnetic and gravity surveys, and digital models of relief.
• Algorithms of segregation of anomalies in temporal series are created and used in the functioning systems of monitoring (also they are continuously developed). Algorithms are used in analysis of the work of hyperactive gravimeters, for analysis of data of electrotellurical potential monitoring for the prediction of volcanic activity, in analysis of remote sensing and some other types of geophysical data.
• The fluid metamorphogenetic model of seismogeniety is developed with the use of methods of geostatistics, theory of catastrophes and physics of unbalanced processes.
• The same methods are used for the research of general statistical laws of catastrophes recurrence and development, considering different physical nature of catastrophes.
• Techniques of evaluation of long-term seismic-tectonic danger are developed.

It is possible to use algorithms and approaches, developed in the laboratory, in some other spheres of knowledge (e.g. biocybernetics, medicine, economics) in such cases when the task is  to process data files of big volume and high complexity.

Gvishiani Alexey Dzhermenovich, chief of the laboratory, professor, doctor of physical-mathematical sciences, director of GC RAS.
Full foreign Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, professor of mathematics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, deputy director general of the Shmidt Institute of the Physics of the Earth of RAS, vice-president of the International Data Committee, vice-chair of the World Data Centres Committee of ICSU, vice-president of the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC, France). Scientific interests: mathematical methods of artificial intellect and their applications to volcanic activity monitoring, searching for geophysical anomalies of different nature and to problems of geodynamics. Author of more than 170 scientific papers in the leading Russian and foreign journals and collections, author of 8 monographs.

Rodkin Mikhail Vladimirovich, deputy chief of the laboratory, chief scientist, doctor of physical and mathematical sciences. Scientific interests: geodynamics, methods of artificial intellect in geophysics, geostatistics, physics of the earthquake’s focus, irreversible thermodynamics. Author of more than 70 scientific papers in the leading Russian and foreign journals and collections, including 2 monographs.

Agayan Sergey Martikovich, leading scientist, D.Sc. in physical-mathematical sciences. Author of a range of data processing algorithms based on methods of fuzzy theory of sets. Scientific interests: methods of artificial intellect, algorithms of classifications, fuzzy theory of sets and applications of these methods for mathematical analysis of geophysical data. Author of more than 40 publications.

Smagin Sergey Alekseevich, leading scientist, PhD in physical-mathematical sciences. Scientific interests: methods of artificial intellect, algorithms of classification, mathematical analysis of geophysical data. Author of more than 20 scientific papers in the leading Russian and foreign journals and collections. He is also dealing with organization of training of post-graduate students and students of the higher courses in GC RAS. Projects of communications of GC RAS with the High School are also under his supervision.

Bogoutdinov Shamil Rafekovich, senior scientist, PhD in physical-mathematical sciences, deals with creation and software realization of algorithms of the geophysical data processing in terms of AI methods. Author of more than 25 publications, including 13 scientific papers in the leading Russian and foreign journals and collections. Scientific interests: programming, methods of artificial intellect, algorithms of classification, application to geophysics.

Graeva Elena Markovna, senior scientist.
Scientific interests: mathematics, methods of artificial intellect, fuzzy theory of sets and application of these methods to the analysis of geophysical monitoring data. Author of more than 10 scientific publications.

Rodnikov Alexandre Georgievich, chief scientist.
Graduated from the Geological faculty of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Doctor of sciences in geology and mineralogy.  Author of 5 published monographs, nearly 100 works in the leading journals and collections, nearly 50 works as theses and conference papers. A.G.Rodnikov was the scientific editor of 10 collections of papers, prepared on international geophysical projects. Sphere of scientific interests: geodynamics, correlation of deep and geological processes, investigation of deep structure of the Earth’s crust and upper mantle under the seismologically dangerous zones, sedimentary basins and mineragenetic areas. A.G. Rodnikov was the head of international project “Geotravers” of Russian, Japanese, Chinese scientific cooperation. A.G.Rodnikov is the member of the Tectonic Committee of Russia, member of the American association of geologists and oil industry workers. Awarded with the medal of the Cambridge biography centre  “To the outstanding scientist of XXI century” (2003).

Lebedev Sergey Anatolievich, senior scientist. Graduate of the physical faculty of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. Completed post-graduate course of the State oceanography institute. PhD in physical-mathematical sciences, specialized in “oceanography”. Published more than 15 scientific papers in the leading Russian and foreign journals (http://eos.wdcb.ru/library/). The principle works are connected with the use of satellite information and, first of all, satellite altimetry for the solution of oceanographic problems s.lebedev@gcras.ru.

Programmes of fundamental investigations of the Presidium of RAS 

• Development of fundamental principles for creating scientific-numerical environment in terms of GRID technologies;

Lead: “Electronic Earth: scientific information resources, information-communication technologies, information support, cooperation with national and international systems” (2004 – 2007). Supervisor Arskiy Yu.M.

Programmes of fundamental investigations of the Department of Sciences of the Earth.

• Geodynamics and mechanisms of deformation of the litosphere.

Lead 1. Seismic processes and catastrophes.

• Dynamics of the seismic process and of the earthquake focuses: modelling and forecast (2006). Supervisor Sobolev G.A.

RFFI Projects.

• Information system “Seismicity and deformed state of the earth’s crust for geodynamic investigations” (2005 – 2007) Supervisor Tatarinov V.N.

• Creation of the elucidated planetary model of the gravity field of the Earth using new gravimetric data for the territory of Russia as well as results of cosmic geodesy (2004 – 2006). Supervisor Nepoklonov V.B.

• Investigation of the inter-annual and seasonal variation of the hydrological and hydrodynamic regime of the Caspian Sea according to remote sensing data (2006 – 2009). Supervisor Lebedev S.A.

• Contemporary block  structure of Eurasia in terms of seismicity analysis, active faults and data cosmic geodesy (2206 – 2009). Supervisor Gatinskiy Yu.G.

• Research of mechanisms and revelations of fluid metamorphogenetic magmatic activationwith the use of algorithms of fuzzy logic (2206 – 2008). Supervisor Rodkin M.V. 

Our Projects.

• Project № 9552 “Development of methods of artificial intellect for the analysis of morphology of electric signals, occurring prior to volcanic activity” of the RAS Shmidt Institute of  Physics of the Earth and of laboratory of volcanology of the Clermon-Ferran University as part of agreement on cooperation between National Centre of Scientific investigations of France (CNRS) and RAS (2001 – 2005).
• Joint Project of the Geophysical Centre of RAS and laboratory of volcanology of Clermon-Ferrane University, within the framework of cooperation betwen RAS and Centre of Scientific investigations of France, CNRS (2006 - …).
• Project on the programme of fundamental investigations of the RAS Presidium “Development of fundamental principles for creating scientific distributed information-numerical environment in terms of GRID technologies” (2004 – 2008).
• RFFI project (04 – 05 – 65055) “Development of algorithms of artificial intellect of the analysis of geologic-geophysical and geodynamic distributed data bases”.
• RFFI project (02 – 05 – 64493) “Modelling of seismic process in the framework of fluid metamorphogenetic model of the genesis of earthquakes”.
• RFFI project (05 – 05 – 65276) “Identification, parametrization, and interpretation of regional and sub-regional features of the regime of rare strong earthquakes and of their consequences”.
• RFFI project (06 – 05 – 64971) “Investigation of mechanisms and manifestation of fluid metamorphogenetic and magmatic activation with the use of algorithms of fuzzy logic”.
• Russian-Polish project of joint investigations AIDA – EAST in the lead of cooperation between Academies of Sciences of Russia and Poland.
• Programmes 13 and 26 of fundamental investigations of the Presidium of RAS.
• Programme Department of Sciences of the Earth -2 “Fundamental problems of geology, conditions of formation and principles of forecast of traditional and new types of large-scale deposits of mineral products of strategic form”.
• Creation of data base on natural catastrophes on the GC RAS site.
• ISTC Project № 2975 “New methods of interpretation of new satellite data on the gravity field of the Earth and its temporal variations: development and practical use”.

International projects.
1. Nucleation processes in the atmosphere (2005 – 2007). Supervisor Lyubovtseva Yu.S. (within the framework of cooperation of RAS and Academy of Sciences of Finland).