Two-dimensional inversion of direct current resistivity data using a parallel, multi-objective genetic algorithm

We introduce the concept of multi-objective optimization to cast the regularized inverse direct current resistivity problem into a general formulation. This formulation is suitable for the efficient application of a genetic algorithm, which is known as a global and non-linear optimization tool. The genetic inverse algorithm generates a set of solutions reflecting the trade-off between data misfit and some measure of model features. Examination of such an ensemble is highly preferable to classical approaches where just one 'optimal' solution is examined since a better overview over the range of possible inverse models is gained. However, the computational cost to obtain this ensemble is enormous. We demonstrate that at the current state of computer performance inversion of 2-D direct current resistivity data using genetic algorithms is possible if state-of-the-art computational techniques such as parallelization and efficient 2-D forward operators are applied.