Tensor Research Newsletter
ModelVision 18 - December 2024

A lot has been happening at Tensor Research since our last newsletter, so we want to tell you about what will be in ModelVision 18.0 and wish you all the best for the festive season and 2025.

Highlights from ModelVision 18.0

Visualisation enhancements have improved our imaging of new structural symbols for points, geophysical grids, continuous/discrete colour legends with range and increment controls, colour contouring and real-time updates with many Apply buttons added to property dialogs. The common multi-map crosshair is a great help when working with different image and body maps. Use it easily with the linked pan and zoom feature. Read more …

Tiled and scale-linked windows showing the new muti-map crosshair cursor, legends and colour and size modulated symbols.

At last, a full text search Help System. ModelVision’s help system has been modernised to take advantage of recent advances in search engine technology. Our help system, user guide, supporting documentation and tutorial are moving to the web for quick searching for solutions to your specific problem. We have even included an experimental AI Assistant that uses our documentation with a ChatGPT style large language model (LLM). Don’t worry, if the web is not accessible, you will still have access to new versions of the local help system and PDF formatted guides. We have many researchers around the world who undertake fundamental research using the tools provided in ModelVision so it is important that they can reference the User Guide. Read more …

Example full text search to find a list of FFT filters where references to line and grid filters were returned.

Our calculator operates on lines, grids, points and drillholes and now has a completely new and more powerful computational engine. Extended function list, logic branching and scripting allow you to apply reusable code each time you receive a new survey dataset. Read more …

The calculator has a new computation engine, extended function set and multi-line scripting.

Create models from data points. For researchers interested in studying large scale models, the point to body conversion tool has been expanded to include tabular, spheres, ellipsoids, circular and elliptical pipes. Use ModelVision survey simulations to test your survey specifications before you fly. It is now easy to create a model of near surface maghaemite nodules using randomly distributed ellipsoids or spheres along with your target model. You can build the full model point data in Excel or other applications such as Python or MATLAB which is much faster than creating the multi-body model manually with the Create Body tool. Read more …

Example of a large point to body conversion from the Cloncurry region where the Tabular body type is applied to all points in the set.

And that’s just some highlights. To find out more about the many other new features and improvements, read more ...

Beta program and incentives for you to join

We are in the final stages of Beta testing so I would like to ask you whether you would like advanced access to the pre-release version of ModelVision 18.0 to do some Beta testing. We value external input from testers because you will use different datasets and solve different problems. We do use ModelVision on many live projects, especially when using RPD Mapping results, or generating research material for model surveys.

Our offer to you is 50% off your annual Support and Updates renewal cost from the time it is next renewed. The offer is available to the first five users who sign up and complete a component of testing. If you work for a company that has multiple licences, the work you do on your licence will be credited to the company at the time the renewal is due.

Timing – We need the results of your tests before the end of January so that we can include as many fixes as possible prior to the release at the end of February.

Let us know if you can help (support@tensor-research.com.au) and we will send you details of the beta program along with documentation on the new features, fixes and known bugs.

Release schedule

If we get the results back from our beta testers in time we will include as many recommendations as possible for release on 28 February 2025.

Interesting developments with the magnetic tensor

Our interest in the magnetic gradient tensor started well before the end of the millennium when we were developing tools for the Falcon Gravity gradiometer system. While most of this focus was on building modelling and interpretation tools in ModelVision, De Beers was actively pursuing the development of an acquisition system for the magnetic tensor. Our research had shown us that the vector magnetic tensor contained enough information in just a few readings to identify the direction and location of the magnetic source. We worked with De Beers to develop methods to extract more geological detail, depth of burial, magnetic susceptibility and remanence properties.

This research evolved into a service that we call RPD Mapping which stands for Rock Property and Depth mapping. Our data comes from full tensor surveys or well specified conventional total magnetic intensity surveys. Of course, given the opportunity, I would prefer to work with new full tensor survey data, but that alone would never have funded our R&D costs. We had developed a method for transforming a conventional TMI survey into a full magnetic gradient tensor line survey. This meant that we could look at historical TMI surveys anywhere in the world with fresh eyes. What might have been missed in past interpretations?

Transformation of the TMI data to the magnetic tensor is well documented and has been available in ModelVision for over 15 years. Our Depth Module uses the magnetic tensor in QuickDepth and the magnetic tensor and tensor grids are generated automatically. We have completed at least 250,000 kilometres of RPD Mapping from surveys in many continents. We know it works because we have had a chance to compare the transform generated tensor with full tensor survey data. The comparison is limited by differing line spacing, line directions and ground clearance but the anomalies exhibit similar amplitudes and shape characteristics. For a perfect match, the data should be collected on the same platform and this will happen soon with developments taking place in Africa.

Conferences and publications

ASEG Exploration Geophysics just published Blair’s third and final PhD paper on the properties of the magnetic tensor.

McKenzie, K.B., Hansen, S.M. and Morrissey, J. (2024) The magnetic gradient tensor of a right circular cylinder: theoretical considerations in the determination of magnetisation direction, Exploration Geophysics, 55:6, 809-841

The 2024 SAGA Conference was held in Namibia and three papers were delivered on the magnetic tensor by colleagues. I was there in spirit.

Kirkpatrick, L., Vorster, A. and Gibson, L. (2024) Exploration target ranking and environmental risk mitigation using magnetic gradient tensors, multibeam echosounder and optical remotely sensed data. Extended Abstracts - 18th SAGA Biennial Conference & Exhibition 2024, 7 p.

Ugalde, H., Morris, W. and Kamath, A. (2024) Full tensor magnetic gradiometry: an assessment of what is being measured and comparison with total magnetic intensity. Presentation 18th SAGA Biennial Conference & Exhibition 2024, 6 p. Also published as Full-tensor magnetic gradiometry: Comparison with scalar total magnetic intensity, processing and visualization guidelines. EAGE Geophysical Prospecting, 1-12.

Vorster, A., Polome, L. and Pratt, D.A. (2024) Advancing full tensor magnetic gradiometer SQUID and UAV magnetic gradiometer systems and surveys for diamond exploration. Extended Abstracts - 18th SAGA Biennial Conference & Exhibition 2024, 6 p.

Hernan Ugalde, DIP Geosciences is our agent in Eastern Canada and South America and provides native language support to South American geophysicists.

Professor Emeritus Bill Morris has been a colleague for many years as Bill has a long history in magnetic rock properties, especially magnetic remanence. Bill and Hernan have trained many a student in the art of ModelVision.

The Innovation Award was given to Anre Vorster for his work on the full tensor magnetometer over many years. His presentation at the SAGA conference also showcased some of our joint work on aliasing and the importance of full tensor gridding. From my perspective, his presentation on the wing-tip mounted full tensor sensor in a horizontally aligned cryostat represents a major step forward in this technology. A towed bird sensor using the horizontal cryostat has also been developed for a helicopter borne system.

The Air Tractor with the larger stinger housing the horizontal cryostat FTMG SQUID system and the two smaller stingers on the opposite wingtips the G-822A magnetometers. Image from the SAGA extended abstract

The two G-822A total field magnetometers will provide the opportunity for a direct comparison of the transformation of TMI to the magnetic tensor with the measured tensor and direct estimation of the aliasing midway between the flight lines.

Time for some end of year good cheer!

Kerri, Blair, Tony and I wish you a very special Christmas with time to unwind from a very busy year. We look forward to hearing from those interested in beta testing and any other questions you have about ModelVision 18.0. We will still be hard at it working on the final release.

David Pratt

Manager Research and Development David.Pratt@tensor-research.com.au

PO Box 5189, Greenwich NSW 2065 Australia

www.tensor-research.com.au