Vice Professor XUE Guoqiang and his team investigate a pseudo-seismic approach based on the so-called inverse Q-transform as an alternative way of processing transient electromagnetic (TEM) data. This technique transforms the diffusive TEM response into that of propagating waves obeying the standard wave-equation. 

This proposed method was applied to both synthetic data as well as field measurements taken from an engineering geology survey. The results indicate that the resolution of the TEM data is significantly improved when compared with standard apparent-resistivity plots, demonstrating that higher resolution 3D transient electromagnetic imaging is feasible using this method. 

Figure 1 Apparent resistivity pseudosection for survey line 0 (centre profile). (Image by XUE)

Figure 2 Corresponding pseudo-transformed wavefield response. (Image by XUE) 

Xue et al. 3D pseudo-seismic imaging of transient electromagnetic data – a feasibility study. Geophysical Prospecting, 2013, 61(S1): 561-571(Download Here)