Work

KarstConduitCatalogue: a dataset of LiDAR derived point clouds for the analysis of karstic conduit geometry and morphology

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: . In mature karst aquifers, networks of interconnected conduits focus and control water flow and solute transport. In order to improve the knowledge of the multi-scale geometry of typical conduits, we acquired a data set of point clouds and triangulated surface models of over 20 different underground caves: KarstConduitCatalogue (available at https://doi.org/10.60544/sbjr-z851, (Racine et al., 2025)). We employed terrestrial and mobile laser scanning workflows as fast and reliable methods for acquiring a dense point cloud of wall surfaces in enclosed spaces. These collected data can be used for many different purposes: evaluation of geometrical descriptors, direct numerical simulations of flow and transport, geomorphological mapping, structure and fracture mapping etc. In this paper, we present the various assets derived from the acquisition. The conduits presented herein span a variety of karst massifs of Western and Central Europe, from low-elevation karst plateaus to higher-elevation Alpine aquifers.

Source: Earth system science data

DOI: 10.5194/essd-17-4671-2025

Authors: Tanguy Racine, Celia Trunz, Julien Straubhaar, Stéphane Jaillet, Philippe Renard

Institutions: University of Neuchâtel, Laboratoire Environnements, Dynamiques et Territoires de Montagne, Université Savoie Mont Blanc

Language: English

Topic: Karst Systems and Hydrogeology

Subfield: Earth-Surface Processes

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,509

Funder: HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council