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Apparatus and method for measuring buried ferromagnetic objects with a high accuracy of position and in synchronization with a sync pulse provided by a global positioning system
| Details |
Inventors: Russell, Richard J.; Crandall, Alan L.; Siegel, Robert M.; Foley, John E.; Glenn, Thomas A.; Gorman, Thomas J.;
Assignee: Geo-Centers, Inc. (Newton Centre, MA)
Primary Examiner: O'Shea; Sandra L.
Assistant Examiner: Patidar; Jay M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wolf, Greenfield & Sacks P.C.
Apparatus and method for collecting magnetometer data at the earth's surface in order to detect anomalies in the earth's magnetic field caused by buried ferromagnetic objects. A plurality of magnetometers are provided in a predetermined array on a mobile platform. A fixed station is also provided on the earth's surface, and navigational data from a global positioning system (GPS) is collected on the locations of the fixed station and mobile platform in synchronization with a sync signal received from the GPS. While the mobile platform traverses an area on the earth's surface, magnetometer data is collected in synchronization with the sync signal. The apparatus and method provide a significant improvement in the amount of area which can be surveyed in a given time period and in the precision of the location and magnetic field intensity data collected. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is a ground-based, non-intrusive, highly mobile system capable of effectively and efficiently characterizing large areas in a short time, at a reduced unit cost, and with good precision.
The present invention uses passive geophysical techniques to detect anomalies (changes) in the earth's ambient magnetic field caused by buried ferromagnetic objects.
In particular, many environmental characterization problems can be solved by addressing the correlated problem of finding hazardous material barrels or containers, which predominantly contain ferromagnetic materials, such as iron and steel.
These materials induce an observable secondary magnetic field which can be measured and modelled to yield estimates of location, depth and mass of the ferromagnetic object.
In addition to waste containers, unexploded ordnance are ferromagnetic and induce an observable change in the earth's magnetic field.
The passive measurement technique of the present invention has several advantages over other geophysical techniques for environmental applications: no positioning of an external source is required, i.
e.
, the source (buried ferromagnetic object) is always active; data can be collected while the sensors (magnetometers) are moving; comparatively low data volume; and comparatively minimal data processing.
In a first embodiment, a motorized vehicle pulls a towed sensor platform containing an array of total-field magnetometers whose position is determined via differential GPS navigation technology.
The acquired data is processed to produce high-resolution magnetic image maps of the surveyed area.
The magnetometers may be cesium vapor, optically pumped, total field magnetometers, which produce a variable frequency proportional to the magnetic field strength.
The earth's ambient magnetic field (at a clean site) is measured and recorded as a function of time, and subtracted from the data via post processing.
The vehicle and tow platform are constructed so as to have a minimal magnetic signature
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