Airborne Tomography using Active Electromagnetics (ATAEM)

Program Manager: Dr. Joseph Durek

The ATAEM Program is developing an active electromagnetic (EM) system for airborne imaging of subsurface structures, such as underground facilities (UGFs) or perimeter-breaching tunnels. Motivated by the geophysical exploration industry, the ATAEM system illuminates the ground with electromagnetic energy and interprets resulting distortions of the electric (E) and magnetic (B) fields to detect and characterize surreptitious structures.

The ATAEM program will investigate and develop the component technologies, including EM illumination sources, noise-isolated sensor payloads, and signal processing, and demonstrate them on an appropriate airborne platform.