Multiscale analysis of high resolution aeromagnetic data for groundwater resource exploration in an arid region of South Australia

• Innovative strategy in multiscale analysis of high resolution aeromagnetic data
• Efficient workflow of data processing steps of high resolution aeromagnetic data
• Application of multiscale analysis in groundwater exploration at an arid region

Multiscale analysis of high resolution total magnetic intensity (TMI) aeromagnetic data over a regional scale is investigated to delineate structural framework suitable for groundwater exploration in an arid region of South Australia. An innovative workflow in processing TMI data is designed, which aids in the multiscale analysis of TMI data in tilt angle domain. The rationale in considering multiscale analysis in the tilt angle domain is discussed in the paper. Each processing module of the workflow of multiscale analysis has been analyzed and the interim output in each processing step is used in the image based interpretation. An interpretation mechanism is formalized by collating digital elevation model (DEM) and geological data with the multiscale images of tilt angle anomalies of high resolution TMI data. The image based interpretation technique with multiscale analysis of high resolution aeromagnetic data has been tested successfully for groundwater resource targeting in an arid region of western Gawler Craton, South Australia. The method has been found to be an important aid in delineating structural trends, in identifying paleovalley or paleochannels and in understanding hydrogeomorphological setup of the study area.