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An effective edge detection technique for subsurface structural mapping from potential field data

  • Research Article - Applied Geophysics
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Abstract

Improving the horizontal boundaries of subsurface geological structures is one of the main objectives in interpreting potential fields. To solve this problem, a number of different algorithms have been introduced based on the derivatives of the field. However, these algorithms have some drawbacks, e.g., the determined edges do not match the actual boundaries. Here, we present a new algorithm based on the gradient amplitude and its derivatives which yields more precise and clear boundaries. The robustness of the proposed technique is illustrated using theoretical examples and a real example from Kon Tum province, Vietnam. Our results show that the proposed technique can produce results with better resolution and minimizes the artifacts in the pseudo-boundary map.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam under Grant Agreement No: TNMT.2022.02.20, and by National Council of Technological and Scientific Development, Brazil, Process 316376/2021-3. Luan Thanh Pham was funded by Vingroup JSC and supported by the Postdoctoral Scholarship Programme of Vingroup Innovation Foundation (VINIF), Vingroup Big Data Institute (VinBigdata), code VINIF.2022.STS.43.

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Correspondence to Luan Thanh Pham.

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Edited by Prof. Ivana Vasiljević (ASSOCIATE EDITOR) / Prof. Gabriela Fernández Viejo (CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF).

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Pham, L.T., Van Duong, H., Kieu Duy, T. et al. An effective edge detection technique for subsurface structural mapping from potential field data. Acta Geophys. 72, 1661–1674 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01185-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11600-023-01185-3

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