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Company Profile

Research & Development

Introduction

Fugro Airborne Surveys maintains an active research & development program in all aspects of airborne geophysics. We continuously seek to improve the quality and accuracy of the data we collect, and reduce operational costs.

The goal of geophysical surveying is to characterise the geology (or geomorphology) as accurately as possible from the remotely sensed geophysical measurements. The goals of our Research & Development are to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of our geophysical surveying, and to improve our ability to convert geophysical data to maps of the geology in two or three dimensions.

Past Successes

DIGHEMV DIGHEM five-frequency helicopter electromagnetic system, the world standard for HEM data quality. 

Since 1967, the DIGHEM system has developed through continuous improvements in data quality and extended frequency range. Specialised variants include the DIGHEMVRES, an all-coplanar resistivity mapping bird with the wildest range of frequencies available in an HEM system. In 2000, a new generation of DIGHEM systems was developed with the all-digital DSP system, featuring full airborne self-calibration and automatic monitoring. The application of HEM data has also been improved by development of major data processing tools and methods, including:

  • Airborne resistivity mapping.
  • Three dimensional resistivity mapping.
  • Mathematical inversion of HEM data to geological layering.
  • Calculation of combined resistivity, magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity.

 
GEOTEM The highly successful GEOTEM time-domain fixed-wing electromagnetic system

First flown in 1985 as a digital enhancement of the successful INPUT system, GEOTEM has since then been continuously improved through experience gained in acquisition, processing and interpretation. Recent developments have included:

  • Measurement in the receiver of three orthogonal components of the secondary EM field (two horizontal directions and one vertical).
  • Recording of both B-field and dB/dT response data.
  • Lower transmitted waveform frequencies of 12.5, 15, 25, and 30Hz.
  • Measurements during the on-time as well as the off-time of the transmitter pulse.
  • Interpretation aids such as energy envelope, conductivity-depth sections, realisable resistive limit maps and stationary current images (SCI).

 
MEGATEM The world's most powerful commercially-available airborne electromagnetic system

In 1998, the new MEGATEM system was introduced, mounted on a four-engine Dash 7 aircraft. The primary advantages to the MEGATEM is the increased depth of penetration, and improved performance at high altitudes.

Fugro Airborne Surveys continues to actively participate in and sponsor the UQAT research project on mineral exploration applications of the MEGATEM system in the Abitibi Region of Quebec, Canada. For details on this project also sponsored by the Government of Canada, the Government of Quebec and Noranda/Falconbridge, please click here.

 
TEMPEST Time-domain fixed-wing electromagnetic system                   

The TEMPEST time-domain fixed-wing electromagnetic system is a product of recent research by Fugro Airborne Surveys. It is an innovative system, light weight with a "square" transmitter waveform and wide band-width, which improves near surface resolution while not sacrificing depth of exploration.

 

Current Research and Development Efforts

  1. Increasing the depth penetration through conductive geology of the fixed-wing time-domain electromagnetic systems. This is done by:
    • Increasing the transmitter power and dipole moment.
    • Increasing the transmitter pulse time and decreasing the frequency.
    • Improving signal processing.
  2. Improving the quality of the time-domain fixed-wing data collected, and the efficiency with which data are collected, which have:
    • Improved aircraft platforms for some systems.
    • Continuous monitoring of system geometry.
    • Better mechanical and electronic design for reduced noise.
    • Streamlined data processing.
  3. Refining data quality in HEM systems through enhanced use of real-time digital signal processing. Projects include:
    • Computer-controlled, stabilised, airborne calibration.
    • Improving signal processing to reduce noise from natural (spheric) and cultural (power line) sources.
    • Development of HEM applications for environmental and engineering problems.
  4. Improvements to the accuracy of data interpretation through development or improvement of processing methods. This includes:
    • In-house work on EM modeling programs and model data sets.
    • Support for EM and magnetic modeling development projects.
    • Improvements to data inversion software, to provide better conversion from geophysical data to geological models.
    • Improved airborne gamma ray (AGS) data processing.
    • Automatic interpretation algorithms for magnetic data interpretation.