The Application of Ground-airborne TEM Systems for Underground Cavity Detection in China

Abstract

Ground-based, electrical-source, and UAV-borne receiver TEM configurations have previously been used to map mines in Jiangsu Province, China. In this study, the EM responses of air-filled mine tunnels were simulated by using a three-dimensional (3D) vector finite element method. A new apparent resistivity formula has been proposed for the ground-airborne TEM configuration. In the study area, field measurements were carried out along 36 profiles for the ground-airborne TEM and 16 profiles for ground TEM. The ground-airborne TEM results were determined to be in good agreement with the ground TEM survey results using a surface central loop, and were also consistent with the known geologic conditions. The experiment was successful and showed that a ground-ground-airborne TEM method could potentially become a novel alternative for both future civilian and military applications. [Figure: see text]