AEM Interpretation Conversion Tool (AEMInterpConvert)

Background

In response to the acquisition of national-scale airborne electromagnetic surveys and the development of a national depth estimates database, a new workflow has been established to interpret airborne electromagnetic conductivity sections. This workflow allows for high quantities of high quality interpretation-specific metadata to be attributed to each interpretation line or point. The conductivity sections are interpreted in 2D space, and are registered in 3D space using code developed at Geoscience Australia. This code also verifies stratigraphic unit information against the national Australian Stratigraphic Units Database, and extracts interpretation geometry and geological data, such as depth estimates compiled in the Estimates of Geological and Geophysical Surfaces database. Interpretations made using this workflow are spatially consistent and contain large amounts of useful stratigraphic unit information. These interpretations are made freely-accessible as

1. Text files and 3D objects through an electronic catalogue,
2. As point data through a point database accessible via a data portal, and
3. Available for 3D visualisation and interrogation through a 3D data portal.

These precompetitive data support the construction of national 3D geological architecture models, including cover and basement surface models, and resource prospectivity models. These models are in turn used to inform academia, industry and governments on decision-making, land use, environmental management, hazard mapping, and resource exploration.

For more information please see the Metadata Statement and User Guide and Workflow Document.

Installation

1. Clone the Repository

git clone [email protected]:geoscienceaustralia/aem-interpretation-conversion.git
cd aem-interpretation-conversion

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2. Choose Your Environment Setup

Option A: Anaconda (Recommended)

If you have Anaconda installed

conda env create -f environment.yml
conda activate aemworkflow-env

Option B: Python 3.12 + Virtual Environment (VENV)

Install a virtual environment

Ensure Python 3.12 is installed on your system. You can download it from the official Python website: https://www.python.org/downloads/.

Linux/MacOS instructions

To create a virtual environment, open a terminal and run the following commands:

python3.12 -m venv aem-venv
source aem-venv/bin/activate

This will create a virtual environment named aem-venv and activate it.

Then install the GDAL dependencies: Use the provided build script to install system-level GDAL and PROJ libraries:

./builds/linux_gdal.sh

This script will:

• Install required system packages (gdal, proj)
• Install the Python GDAL bindings matching your GDAL version

And add the current directory to the Python path:

export PYTHONPATH=$PYTHONPATH:$(pwd)

Continue with the verification and installation instructions below

Windows instructions

To create a virtual environment, open a terminal and run the following commands:

Download and install OSGeo4W.

• Choose Advanced Install

• Select the following packages:

  • gdal
  • proj

After installation (default path is C:OSGeo4W or C:OSGeo4W64), run the helper script to configure environment variables and install Python GDAL bindings using Windows Command prompt (CMD):

cd builds
windows_gdal.bat

This script will:

• Add OSGeo4W binaries to your PATH
• Detect the installed GDAL version (gdalinfo --version)
• Install the matching Python GDAL bindings via pip

Continue with the verification and installation instructions below

Verification and installation

Then verify the gdal installation and bindings are working correctly by ensuring this command runs without errors:

Finally, install the AEMInterpConvert Package:

pip install .

Run scripts

For each script, run the file with any required arguments and any additional where you want to deviate from the default. All arguments should be in quotes as per the examples.

If using Anaconda, activate conda environment if required before running the scripts.

Pre-interpretation

aemworkflow pre-interpret --i "{input_directory}" --o "{output_directory}"

Parameter examples:

Argument	Required	Default	Options	Notes
input directory	Yes	None		A non zipped folder containing required files
output directory	Yes	None
coordinate reference system	No	28349	28349, 28350, 28351, 28352, 28354, 28355, 28356	GDA/MGA zone EPSG
GIS software	No	Esri ArcMap	esri_arcmap_0.5 or esri_arcmap_pro_0.5
number of depth lines	No	10
lines increments in metres	No	30

Interpretation

aemworkflow interpret --i "{input_directory}" --o "{output_directory}"

Parameter examples:

Argument	Required	Default	Options	Notes
input directory	Yes	None		A non zipped folder containing required files
output directory	Yes	None
coordinate reference system	No	28349	28349, 28350, 28351, 28352, 28354, 28355, 28356	GDA/MGA zone EPSG
GIS software	No	Esri ArcMap	esri_arcmap_0.5 or esri_arcmap_pro_0.5
number of depth lines	No	10
lines increments in metres	No	30

Validation

aemworkflow validate --i "{input_directory}" --o "{output_directory}" --a "{asud_filename}"

Parameter examples:

Argument	Required	Default	Options	Notes
input directory	Yes	None		A non zipped folder containing required files
output directory	Yes	None
asud filename	Yes	None

Conversion

aemworkflow convert --i "{input_directory}" --o "{output_directory}"

Parameter examples:

Argument	Required	Default	Options	Notes
input directory	Yes	None		A non zipped folder containing required files
output directory	Yes	None
coordinate reference system	No	28349	28349, 28350, 28351, 28352, 28354, 28355, 28356	GDA/MGA zone EPSGac

Export

aemworkflow export --i "{input_directory}" --o "{output_directory}" --b "{boundary_file}" --s "{split_file}" --mdc --mdch --egs

Parameter examples:

Argument	Required	Default	Options	Notes
input directory	Yes	None		A non zipped folder containing required files
output directory	Yes	None
asud filename	Yes	None
boundary file	Yes	None
split file	No	None
--mdc	No	False	Add the flag if you want to set to true	Export to MDC format
--mdch	No	False	Add the flag if you want to set to true	Export to MDCH format
--egs	No	False	Add the flag if you want to set to true	Export to EGS format

Useful Links

Home Page

https://github.com/GeoscienceAustralia/aem-interpretation-conversion

Documentation

http://GeoscienceAustralia.github.io/aem-interpretation-conversion

Issue tracking

https://github.com/GeoscienceAustralia/aem-interpretation-conversion/issues

AEMInterpConvert website user interface https://aem.toolkits.ga.gov.au

Bugs & Feedback

For bugs, questions and discussions, please use Github Issues https://github.com/GeoscienceAustralia/aem-interpretation-conversion/issues