ELECTROMAGNETIC

METHOD
By
Andri Yadi Paembonan
Screenshot

12/8/21 Geoelectrical and EM Method 2

Agenda

Basic concept of EM method

Signal Source & Noise

Frequency Domain: CMD

Frequency Domain: VLF

Frequency Domain: MT & CSAMT

Time Domain: TEM/TDEM and LOTEM/CSEM

GPR

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GPR - Overview

Non-destructive inspection of the Earth

and its Infrastructure

Commercialized use since early 1970’s

Average radiated power is approximately

1% of cell phone transmitted power

Safe to use

Has many practical applications

From 0.1 m to 300 m depths

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GPR-Applications

Pavement layer identification

Concrete inspection (locate rebar, tension cables, etc)

Utility detection (pipes, tanks, etc)

Bridge deck condition assessment

Rail-bed condition assessment

Geology, mining

Archeology

Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) and Forensics

Military/Espionage

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GPR - Principles

Electrical Conductivity
• The ability of a material to conduct
an electric current
• Higher conductivities make GPR
signal penetration difficult
• Use published sources or take
readings from field

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GPR - Principles

Dielectric Constant
vUnit-less measure of a material’s ability to hold
and pass a charge
vValues range from 1 (air) to 81 (water)
vLower the number, higher the velocity
vReferenced published values
ØAsphalt Concrete values range from 3 to 5
ØPCC values range from 6 to 11
ØCement Treated Base = 2 to 5

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GPR - Principles
Recording the two-way travel time and the amplitude of the reflection

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GPR - Principles

Z1

Z2

) %
Velocity, 𝑣 = Z = 𝜀𝜇
5 /7
c = 3 x 108 m/s non-conducting/
non-magnetic medium (μ = 1)
!"#$"%&"' ()*$+&,'" /! 0 /"
𝑅= -.%+'".& ()*$+&,'"
= /! 1 /"

!234.5)+&&"' ()*$+&,'" 6 /"

𝑇= = (Daniels, 2004)
-.%+'".& ()*$+&,'" /! 1 /"

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 GPR - Principles

Attenuation

https://gpg.geosci.xyz/
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GPR - Principles

GPR transmitter transmits electromagnetic pulse into ground

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GPR - Principles
Electromagnetic energy travels down into the ground

Reflections from layer interfaces are reflected back to surface and

measured by the GPR receiver

GPR transmitter/receiver are moved, and testing is repeated

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GPR - Principles

Benedetto & Benedetto 2014

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RDP (Relative Dielectric Permittivity)

“RDP is ability of a material

to store and allow passage
of electromagnetic energy
when a field is imposed
upon it.”

RDP of a substance =
electrical permitivity /
vacuum
RDP (Relative Dielectric Permittivity)

!
𝜀=
"

𝜀 = RDP
C = Speed of light
V = Velocity of
radar energy
GPR Depth Determination
Dielectric constants for common materials

𝑫 = (𝟓. 𝟗𝒕)/ 𝜀𝒓 Air 1

● D = depth of target (inc)
Pure water 81
● t = wave travel time (nano
sec.) Fresh water (ice) 4

● 5.9 = a constant Granite (dry) 5

incorporating speed of
light and unit conversions Clay (saturated) 8-12

● 𝜀𝒓 = dielectric constant of Sand (dry) 4-6

subsurface material
Sand (saturated) 30
Example
How deep below the surface is an object that is detected
at 46 ns in dry sand (𝜀𝒓 = 4)?

Answer:
D = (5.9 x 46) / 4
D = 135.7 inc
Therefore, the object is about 11 ft underground
Basic Mechanism

Greater surface
difference =
Stronger signal

Strong signal has

large amplitude

Weak signal has

small amplitude

Amplitude
wavelength and
time are used to
create image of
what is underground
Noise
Returning
Radiowaves Signals from
from Other Above-
Sources Ground
Objects

Ringing Noise from

Scattering

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Equipment
Consists of:
• 1. control unit
• 2. display unit
• 3. transmitting and receiving unit
Survey
What is the Tx-Rx separation distance?

What is the operating frequency and

wavelet pulse width?

What do you know about the local

physical properties? high/low
conductivity? high/low dielectric
permittivity?

Is the ground dry or saturated

(permittivity)? Does the ground contain
features which may scatter the signal?

Having considered the previous

statements, what do you think the
https://gpg.geosci.xyz/ resolution and probing distance are?

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Data

Febriansanu, 2021

When is the earliest useful signal you measure? When is the latest?

Why can’t you see anything after the latest signal? Attenuation? Strong reflector?

Can you infer a layer velocity and turn the travel time axis into an apparent distance
axis?

Is there a reverse in polarity of the wavelet signal? What does that tell you
about ε1 and ε2 for an interface?
https://gpg.geosci.xyz/

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Processing & Interpretation
MULAI

INPUT RAW DATA

STATIC CORRECTION

DEWOWING

AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL

BANDPASS FILTER FREKUENSI

BACKGROUND REMOVAL

TRACE STACKING

MIGRASI

SELESAI

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Locating Buried Storage Tanks

https://gpg.geosci.xyz/

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