Development of an Active, Broadband, Concentric-Coil Electromagnetic (ABCEM) Mine Detector

We propose developing a new, portable electromagnetic mine detector. Geophex has previously developed and deployed a new generation of electromagnetic sensors that, with additional improvements proposed in this SBIR, has a strong potential to become the most state-of-the-art electromagnetic mine detector. The proposed sensor will consist of three co-located coils based on the magnetic cavity concept explained in this proposal. The mine detector will be designed to be used by ordinary soldiers and will have the following unique features: (1) One-man portable high-tech mine detector: intelligent, realtime data interpertatior and display on a color LCD screen. (2) Targets can be metallic mines (positive conductivity targets), nonmetallic mines (negative conductivity targets), or a disturbed soil condition. (2) Detection and characterization based on visual color displays, rather than the tonal changes common to current metal detectors. (3) Broadband (1-100 kHz), selectable frequencies for depth-scanning suitable for regional soil conditions and geology. (4) Realtime software for interpreting multifrequency data to generate a color target map as well as a 3-D tomographic image for each candidate target. (5) All sensor coils housed in a light, circular disk - very similar in appearance to a conventional metal detector. The ABCEM mine detector proposed here, when completed, will be in demand worldwide to satisfy the current land mine detection and removal needs. The technology also would be applicable to detecting other buried objects, natural or man-made, such as mineral resources, sink holes, underground storage tanks, utility pipes, power lines, forgotten hazardous landfills, and lost treasure.