Technical Papers - Airborne Electromagnetics

Visualisation of Sub-Surface Conductivity Derived from Airborne EM

Richard Lane and Gabriella Pracilio, Fugro Airborne Surveys, Australia.

Abstract

The quality of predicted subsurface conductivity from airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data has improved by bringing together three elements: calibrated broadband ground response information from new AEM hardware, a practical method of transforming the ground response data into 1D conductivity models, and visualisation routines to display and communicate significant model features in 3D. TEMPEST is the new AEM system. It is distinguished from other AEM systems by its greater bandwidth (25-37500 Hz), monitoring of transmitter loop - ground - receiver coil geometry variations and advanced processing routines to extract calibrated ground response data. Conductivity depth images (CDI's) were derived from TEMPEST data using EMFlow software. The CDI's were validated against ground data to illustrate the quality of the predicted sub surface data. A groundwater case study was used to present a range of displays developed to enhance the information content from AEM data, illustrating that much can be learnt by viewing the 1D models gridded as 3D volumes.

EEGS SAGEEP 2000 Proceedings, Washington, February 2000, 101-110.

For more information, please email Daniel Sattel, Fugro Airborne Surveys. 

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