Abstract
Semi-airborne electromagnetic method (SAEM) is a geophysical electromagnetic detection method which places the transmitting subsystem on the ground and the receiver subsystem on the flight platform. This transceiver configuration has been found to be more efficient than that of the traditional ground electromagnetic methods while it can get much deeper penetration than the traditional airborne electromagnetic methods. Therefore, the SAEM has been widely used in mineral, groundwater, geothermal, and other resources exploration fields. In this paper, we would like to take the most key problems encountered in the SAEM system design and application as the starting point, and then we focus mainly on reviewing the progress of the transmitter, sensor, and receiver technology, as well as data processing, modeling, and imaging methods of the SAEM in China. In particular, the research progress of multi-source SAEMs will be introduced. Beyond that, two prospecting examples with different SAEM systems will be introduced. Finally, we will discuss the future of the SAEM in terms of equipment developing, data processing, modeling and inversion, to promote the research and application in this field to a higher level.
Highlights
Electromagnetic method acquires the electromagnetic transfer function of the earth system by observing the electromagnetic response excited by natural or artificial sources, and extracts the distribution information of the electrical parameters of the earth on this basis [1]
The traditional electromagnetic observation devices are located on the surface of the earth, and only a few constraints are imposed on the detection equipment, the detection results obtained by the traditional electromagnetic methods will take into account both the large detection depth and the shallow high resolution
In accordance with the selected method, the Airborne Electromagnetic Method (AEM) can be further divided into two types: Airborne Transient Electromagnetic (ATEM) and Airborne Frequency-domain Electromagnetic (AFEM)
Summary
Electromagnetic method acquires the electromagnetic transfer function of the earth system by observing the electromagnetic response excited by natural or artificial sources, and extracts the distribution information of the electrical parameters of the earth on this basis [1]. SAEM usually deploys the high-power transmitting system (including transmitter and transmitting antenna) on the ground, and uses a flight platform to carry sensors (induction magnetometer, or search coil) and acquisition system for aerial observations [1], so as to achieve a balance between detection depth and work efficiency. Due to the miniaturization of sensors and acquisition systems, and the remarkable improvement in the performance of low-cost civil UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) in recent years, it has become possible to use the low-cost civil UAVs to carry SAEM detection system These developments will help to further reduce the application and maintenance costs of SAEM systems; in addition, multi-field and multi-component observation can be realized based on a UAV formation, in which each UAV carries different sensors and forms a tensor of sensors. We will discuss the future of SAEM in terms of equipment developing, data processing, modeling and inversion, to promote the research and application in this field to a higher level
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