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Equivalence causes non-uniqueness in interpretations of the grounded-wire transient electromagnetic method (TEM). Many different layered models may produce the same response curves practically. However, the conventional theory of equivalence is based on the three-layer geo-electric models while the earth may not be reducible to a simple three-layer structure. Therefore, it is important to perform research on equivalence based on more complex models to reduce the uncertainty the grounded-wire TEM interpretations. Here, we extend the theory of equivalence based on a multi-layer target in the grounded-wire TEM, consisting of SS-, HH-, and TT-type. The analysis of relative error is applied to investigate the effect of measured components and receiver locations on equivalence. The results show that equivalence of multi-model occurs when any of three conditions is satisfied: the longitudinal conductance is constant in the far area, the thickness of targets do not change, or the transverse conductance of a multilayer target remains unchanged. In order to largely resolve the effect of equivalence on data interpretation, a strategy combined with short-offset survey and joint inversion of the electric component and magnetic component is presented and verified by the field survey in Shanxi Province, China. • Equivalence causes non-uniqueness in interpretations of the grounded-wire TEM method. • The conventional theory of equivalence is based on the three-layer geo-electric models. • It is important to perform research on equivalence based on more complex models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semi-airborne transient electromagnetic method (TEM) has been widely used in resource exploration and other fields due to its high efficiency, strong adaptability to the complex environment and high resolution. However, the conventional semi-airborne electromagnetic method continues to use the survey area of the grounded-wire TEM method. Compared with the existing ground-based TEM method, the semi-airborne TEM method is more sensitive to signal intensity because observed data is easily affected by noise for receiving position in the air. Therefore, it's unreasonable to consider only signal intensity or sensitivity related to offset in survey area. To obtain more suitable area, we discuss the distribution of the transient electromagnetic field with electrical source as well as the attenuation characteristics of the signal at different flight altitude through the forward modeling. Then, we obtain the sensitive area and flight altitude applied by the error analysis method in typical models. Finally, we describe a method what is herein dubbed the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation, which greatly reflects the membership degree of the evaluation object from different single factors to each level of fuzzy subset. Therefore, we use this method to get the optimal survey area and flight altitude under different noise levels. In low noise level, the signal intensity and sensitivity account for 33.3% and 66.7% respectively in selecting the optimum area and altitude, resulting in that the optimal area and flight altitude are coincides with the sensitive area and altitude better. While in the area filled with noise, the most area of strongest signal intensity is considered the optimal area and altitude. A field example shows that the aforementioned method can be well resolved in identifying survey lines and improving data quality. • The semi-airborne transient electromagnetic method (TEM) has been widely used. • We use the method of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation to evaluate the analog observation area with low and high noise. • The results are verified by field measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]