Surface Geology Reconstruction through Integration of Active and Passive Remotely Sensed Data

Boz, Alberto ¹; Clementi, Valentia ¹; De Paulis, Riccardo ¹; Boschetti, Mirco ²; Pepe, Monica ²; Prati, Claudio ³; Rocca, Fabio ³; Tebaldini, Stefano ³; Magistroni, Corrado¹
(1)GEOLAB, Eni E&P, San Donato Milanese, Italy. (2) IREA, CNR, Milan, Italy. (3) PoliMI, Milan, Italy.

This paper presents the first preliminary results of a 3-year R&D project led and funded by Eni with the aim of supporting the development of an innovative methodology based on the integration of remote sensed data and field geology.

A complete set of remotely and locally sensed data:

-Passive Data, High and medium resolution satellite multispectral data, Hyperspectral Airborne Imagery;

-Active Data, Satellite low to medium resolution satellite C and L band data and airborne X and L band data;

-Surface Geology, Spectral data, mineralogical analysis, has been acquired over a well defined test area in the Dolomites (NE Italian Alps), characterized by the outcropping (with different type of soil coverage) of Sedimentary, Volcanic and Volcanoclastics lithologies. Further acquisitions in deserted areas are planned for the next project phase in North Africa. The development of proprietary processing algorithms and spectral libraries will be a key result to be achieved.

The elaboration of a comprehensive surface geological model based on integration of ground data, spectral signatures, image textures and physical properties of radar data, would be part of the routine set of activities during early phases of exploration onshore projects.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90135©2011 AAPG International Conference and Exhibition, Milan, Italy, 23-26 October 2011.