Empirical method of error analysis in volume estimation: Monte Carlo simulation under Kriging and triangulation

Volume estimation packages often lack tools for measuring and analyzing the effect of input data uncertainty and possible error propagation in the vol ume estimation process. This paper proposes and develops an empirical proce dure for error modeling in volume estimation using spatial simulation techn iques. The procedure can be used to study the stability of interpolation me thods in the presence of error, in other words finding a method that predic ts best surface fit and volume estimates from imperfect data. The Monte Car lo simulation technique is used to construct an effective algorithm to stud y the effect of input data uncertainty on volumes estimated with perturbed Kriged surfaces and triangulated surfaces. The results are compared for con sistency with a volume generated from a triangulated surface that holds the location points fixed.