A Fault-Constrained Partitioned 3D Modeling Method for Coal Seams in a Working Face

Abstract

Traditional coal seam geological models often fail to represent the complex spatial distribution of coal seams in a working face, particularly in fault-affected areas where structural discontinuities tend to reduce model continuity and prediction accuracy. To address this issue, this study develops a fault-constrained partitioned 3D modeling workflow by integrating data quality inspection, spatial partitioning, local surface reconstruction, and model fusion. Gas-drainage borehole records are first checked through roof-floor elevation comparison and geometric consistency screening. Fault control points are then used to delineate partition boundaries, and coal seam points are assigned to different modeling units using a ray-casting-based point-in-polygon procedure. Guided by the partitioning logic and the density-evaluation idea described in the workflow, local surfaces are reconstructed using alternative interpolation strategies, including inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging, and radial basis function (RBF) interpolation, together with regular-grid and TIN-based mesh generation. The resulting partition-level models are fused into a unified 3D representation of the working face. The workflow clarifies the spatial relationship between faults and coal seams and provides a practical technical route for transparent underground geology and safe mining in structurally complex areas.