Derivative Imaging for Subsurface Object Detection

• US 20110202277A1
• Filed: 02/11/2011
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Haddad, Waleed S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,694,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/7
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/885 for ground probing prospecting or detecting using electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9027 Pattern recognition for feature extraction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/9094 Theoretical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 11/002 Details, e.g. power supply systems for logging instruments, transmitting or recording data, specially adapted for well logging, also if the prospecting method is irrelevant means for transmitting well survey signals E21B47/12; signal transmission systems in general G08C; transmission in general H04B
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/14 operating with electron or nuclear magnetic resonance
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/17 operating with electromagnetic waves operating with millimetre waves G01V8/005
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2200/21 involving computational photography
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30181 Earth observation
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/38 Registration of image sequences
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

A series of scans is generated for a subsurface and a derivative image is created using the series of subsurface images. One or more tests are performed on the derivative image, and a subsurface object is detected based on the one or more tests. A sensor is configured to generate a series of scans for a subsurface and a processor is coupled to the sensor. The processor is configured to execute stored program instructions that cause the processor to generate a series of images of the subsurface using the series of scans, create a derivative image using the series of subsurface images, perform one or more tests on the derivative image, and detect a subsurface object based on the one or more tests.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating a series of scans for a subsurface;

creating a derivative image using the series of subsurface images;

performing one or more tests on the derivative image; and

detecting a subsurface object based on the one or more tests.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating an output in response to detecting the subsurface obstacle.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating one or both of a visual output and an audible output in response to detecting the subsurface obstacle.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating the derivative image comprises calculating a derivative of a reflected or scattered energy parameter associated with a pixel or a pixel cluster of the subsurface images.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein creating the derivative image comprises:

calculating a derivative of a parameter of the subsurface images; and

forming the derivative image using derivatives of the parameter.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the parameter comprises brightness of a pixel or a pixel cluster of the subsurface images.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

creating the derivative image comprises;

calculating a derivative of a pixel parameter or a pixel cluster parameter of the subsurface images; and

forming the derivative image using derivatives of the pixel or pixel cluster parameter; and

performing one or more tests on the derivative image comprises;

determining whether a derivative of each pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a first threshold; and

determining whether the previous n derivatives for this pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a second threshold, wherein n is an integer.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein one or both of the first threshold and the second threshold are adjustable.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

creating the derivative image comprises;

calculating a derivative of a pixel parameter or a pixel cluster parameter of the subsurface images; and

forming the derivative image using derivatives of the pixel or pixel cluster parameter; and

performing one or more tests on the derivative image comprises performing at least two of;

determining whether the derivative of each pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a first threshold;

determining whether the previous n derivatives for this pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a second threshold, wherein n is an integer;

determining if a range associated with each pixel or pixel cluster is less than a predetermined detection range; and

determining if a location associated with each pixel or pixel cluster is beyond a predetermined position.

10. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

forming a mask image comprising one or more markers indicative of object detection location;

applying the mask image to the subsurface images; and

displaying the mask image applied to the subsurface images.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising cropping the subsurface images to excise portions of the subsurface images beyond a predetermined detection range.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

generating the subsurface images comprises creating a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image using the series of scans; and

creating the derivative image comprises creating a derivative image of the SAR image.

13. A system, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a series of scans for a subsurface; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and configured to execute stored program instructions that cause the processor to generate a series of images of the subsurface using the series of scans, create a derivative image using the series of subsurface images, perform one or more tests on the derivative image, and detect a subsurface object based on the one or more tests.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a ground penetrating radar.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an acoustic or a seismic sensor.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises an electromagnetic sensor.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of:

a magnetic field generator and a detector configured to detect a return signal;

a magnetic resonance (MRI) source and a detector configured to detect a return signal;

a positron emission (PET) source and a detector configured to detect a return signal;

a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) sensor and a detector configured to detect a return signal; and

a time-domain electromagnetic (TDEM) sensor and a detector configured to detect a return signal.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a housing configured for above-ground portability.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor comprises a housing configured for subsurface deployment.

20. The system according to claim 13, comprising a user interface coupled to the processor, the user interface comprising a display for displaying subsurface images and indicia indicative of the detected subsurface object.

21. The system according to claim 13, comprising a display coupled to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to form a mask image comprising one or more markers indicative of object detection location, apply the mask image to the subsurface images, and display the mask image applied to the subsurface images on the display.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a derivative of a reflected or scattered energy parameter associated with a pixel or a pixel cluster of the subsurface images and form the derivative image using derivatives of the reflected or scattered energy parameter.

23. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a derivative of brightness associated with a pixel or a pixel cluster of the subsurface images and form the derivative image using derivatives of brightness.

24. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a derivative of a pixel parameter or a pixel cluster parameter of the subsurface images, form the derivative image using derivatives of the pixel or pixel cluster parameter, determine whether a derivative of each pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a first threshold, and determine whether the previous n derivatives for this pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a second threshold, wherein n is an integer.

25. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to calculate a derivative of a pixel parameter or a pixel cluster parameter of the subsurface images, form the derivative image using derivatives of the parameter, and performing at least two of:

determining whether the derivative of each pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a first threshold;

determining whether the previous n derivatives for this pixel or pixel cluster exceeds a second threshold, wherein n is an integer;

determining if a range associated with each pixel or pixel cluster is less than a predetermined detection range; and

determining if a location associated with each pixel or pixel cluster is beyond a predetermined position.

26. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to crop the subsurface images to excise portions of the subsurface images beyond a predetermined detection range.

27. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to create a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image using the series of scans, and create a derivative image of the SAR image.