Metal Mapper

Fast Times Article Regarding the Metal Mapper (372.54 KB)

MetalMapper Power Point Presentation (6.09 MB)

The MetalMapper is an advanced Time Domain EM (TEM) system that provides a large leap forward in the ability to discriminate between buried UXO items and other metallic objects. Developed under SERCP and ESCTP research projects this system uses a 3 component TEM transmitter and seven tri-axial receivers to characterize each target.

The high quality data that is acquired is then processed to produce a 3 axis polarizability curves that describe that characterize the buried object. These curves can then be processed using automated neural networks and libraries of the polarizability curves from known objects to produce the ability to predict whether a buried object is item of interest. This ability to discriminate is highlited in the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve.

It shows an order of magnitude improvement over other commercially available technologies. In a recent survey conducted under the direction of the Institute of Defense Analyses the MetalMapper was the top performer in a comparison against all other technologies for UXO discrimination. The MetalMapper represents the next generation of UXO instrument that can provide you the ability to eliminate a huge number of unnecessary intrusive investigations and significantly reduce the time and money it takes to remediate a site contaminated with UXO

The MetalMapper is available in several configurations and is now available for rent for use in production UXO surveys. In the front loaded tractor configuration the MetalMapper was able to reacquire and collect static characterization data over 400 points in a single day. It can also be configured to operate in mapping mode so that a single instrument can be used for mapping and target discrimination/reacquisition.

Proven in ESTCP-funded testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground and San Luis Obispo
Advanced UXO detection and discrimination
May be towed or front-mounted
Complete 3-axis polarizability measurement, allowing for estimation of target depth, size, and shape
Rugged, light-weight antenna cart suitable for man-portable or vehicular-towed operation
3 orthogonal high power transmitter loops permit precision static characterization from a single point
7 tri-axial dB/dt receiver cubes sample the vector secondary TEM field
Wide dynamic range, high bandwidth A/D converters
User-friendly acquisition software
Optional dual-mode (TEM/Mag) acquisition capability
Optional platform attitude sensor measures platform magnetic heading, pitch, and roll.
Windows-based acquisition software permits:
Acquisition parameter selection
On-site data QC
Real-time data display and operator feed-back during acquisition
Custom Geosoft Executables (GX) support importing data into Oasis montaj™ and automate many data processing procedures unique to MetalMapper.
Physics-based analysis software
Computes target position and attitude,
Computes principal target polarizability transients (3)
Provides convenient data base management of targets