Numerical analysis of fold curvature using data acquired by high-precision GPS

The maximum, minimum, Gaussian, and mean curvatures of a folded bedding surface are calculated from a high resolution data set. These data were collected using real-time kinematic (RTK) GPS and processed using commercially available software. The curvature parameters are calculated analytically from the first and second fundamental forms of the folded surface. Matrix algebra makes this method efficient for large data sets. Contoured maps of the curvature parameters can then be used as basemaps for the interpretation of other structural information such as fracture densities and orientations. This method provides precise analysis of folded surfaces in three dimensions and the data can be incorporated into larger-scale data sets obtained from seismic surveys.