G EO PH Y SIC S, VOL. 49, N O. 7 (JULY 1984); P. 1115-1118, 3 TABLES.

Short Note
A single digital linear filter for computations in electrical methods
A unifying approach

U. C. Das*
U( x ) = o u tp u t function,

IN T R O D U C T IO N

e ~ 2yf { y , kernel (>)} = in p u t function,

A m ajor co n trib u tio n to the in terp re ta tio n o f electrical

m easurem ents was m ade w ith the applicatio n of digital linear
filtering in troduced by G h o sh (1970, 1971a, b). T his rendered
the co m p u tatio n s easy an d fast. In a recent p u blication, I
show ed (D as, 1982) th a t the filters for co m p u tin g responses for
any electrode o r coil configurations em ployed in electrical
m ethods could be derived easily from stored basic sp ectra of the
tw o filter functions, nam ely, {exp (x y ) J 0 [exp (x >)]} and
{exp (x v )ii[e x p (x >')]}. O ne has to m ultiply the stored
spectra by simple factors to arrive a t the required spectra. I
show here th a t a sim ple m athem atical m a n ip u latio n transform s
a J 0 d o m ain integral in to its co rresp o n d in g J l d o m ain integral,
thereby leading to the use o f a single 7 , filter for a variety of
co m putations in electrical m ethods.
In electrical m ethod s the m easured q u a n tity U(r), rep re
senting potential, field, o r cu rv atu re o f th e p o ten tial can be
expressed as a H ankel integral,
U(r) =

f [ X , kernel ( K j J / J J X r ) dX

and
J n ( eX y) = filter function.

F o r the fast convergence of the filter function (K oefoed et al.,

1972) eq u a tio n (3) is p u t in th e follow ing form
[e /{>, kernel (>>)}]

resulting in the m odifications to the above definitions of input

and filter functions. I refer to th e term in the la tte r b rackets in
the in teg ran d as a J 0 o r
filter function for n = 0 o r 1,
respectively. The integral is a co nvolution o f the filter function
with the in p u t function.

(1)

U N IFIC A T IO N S

where n = 0, 1. H ere r represents the h o rizo n tal sep aratio n

betw een the source a n d the field p o in t ,/i s a function of X, (th at
also involves the vertical sep aratio n betw een th e source an d the
field point), and J is the nth o rd er Bessel function of first kind.
W ith the changes of variables,

and

A m eth o d of using a single J 0 filter for com puting W enner,

Schlum berger, an d dipole-diple a p p a re n t resistivity curves was
given by D avis et al. (1980). This p ap er elim inated the need for
J , filters by tran sfo rm in g th e a p p a re n t resistivity expressions
into th e form o f a p o ten tial expression, involving J 0 only,
th ro u g h a series of su b stitutions. H ere I suggest a sim ple m ath
em atical m an ip u latio n , i.e., a derivative in th e in p u t dom ain, to
transform any J 0 d o m ain H an k el integral in to its co rresp o n d
ing J l dom ain.
C onsider eq u atio n (1) w ith zero -o rd er Bessel fu n c tio n :

(2)
X = e~>\

equation (1) can alw ays be p u t in the form of a co nvolution

integral
t/(x) =

e 2yf { y , kernel (y)}J(ex y) dy,

(4)

[ e * - V .( e * - 0 ] dy,

U(r).

(3)

f { X , kernel

(/.r) dr.

(5)

A pplying H an k el tran sfo rm atio n (Fourier-B essel integral, see

e.g., W atso n , 1966, section 14.3, eq. 3) to eq u atio n (5), one
obtains

where

M anuscript received by the E ditor August 29, 1982; revised m anuscript received Novem ber 25, 1983.
Form erly N ational Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad 500 007, India; presently Dept, of Applied Geophysics, University of Lulea, S-951
87 Lulea, Sweden.
1984 Society of Exploration Geophysicists. All rights reserved.

1115

1116

Das

Potential

f { X , kernel (X)}

U(r)rJQ(Xr) dX.

(6)

- r

T he w ell-know n expression for the p o ten tial due to a point

source o f cu rren t o n the surface of a layered earth is

D ifferentiate b o th sides of eq u atio n (6) w ith respect to X,

d
dX

f { X , kernel (X)} =

U(r)r J ^Xr) dr ,

(7)

and apply H ankel inversion to eq u atio n (7) to o b tain

l d

U(r) =

r dX

f { X , kernel (X)}

U ^ X r ) dX.

(8)

V(r)

T ( X ) J 0 {Xr) dX,

w here / is the cu rren t an d T{X) = T t (X) is the resistivity tra n s

form (an associated kernel) o b tain ed from the follow ing recu r
rence form ula (K oefoed, 1976, eq. 5, p. 235)
T + p_! ta n h (Xd. t )
T- ,W =

T hus J , is seen to ap p ear in the H an k el integral instead of J 0 . 1

w rite eq u atio n (8) as
f { X , kernel (X.)}A,J1(X.r) dX,

V(r)

(9)

V(r)

f { X , kernel (/.)}.
v

(10)

1 + T tan h (W _ 1)/p _ 1

( 12)

w here p an d d deno te the resistivity an d th e thickness of differ

ent layers of an n-layer earth. W riting eq u atio n (11) as

w here
f ' { X , kernel (/.)} =

(H)

2 " Jo

~z~

271

X J 0 (Xr) dX

(13)

an d em ploying the present tran sfo rm atio n ,

mAi

'

V(r) =

The superscript t will be used hereafter for the transform ed

function. T he reason for transform ing from J 0 to
is th a t the
J x filter function converges at a slightly higher rate for negative
filter abscissas (K oefoed et al., 1972, figure 3, p. 415 an d figure 5,
p. 418). T his should result in a J 1 filter having sim ilar accuracy
to, b u t sh o rter length th an , th e corresp o n d in g J 0 filter.

2Tt Jo

V(r)

i d

[r(X)~j~

r dX \

X J_

X J ^ X r ) dX,

1 f 01V ( X ) X J l (Xr) dX,

27T Jo

(14)

(15)

w here
A PPLIC A TIO N S
T (X) =

In the follow ing I consider a few exam ples of the above

approach.

T(X)

1 dT(Xj

X1 ~ X

(16)

dX

T he co m p u tatio n now involves the ev aluation o f th e derivative

dT( X) / dX at the surface. F ro m eq u atio n (12),

dT

dT.'

[1 - r _ t ta n h ( H , _ , ) / P n - , ] - ^ + [p _ , - T T _ J p _ l 2dn_ 1 s e c h J
(17)
1 + T ta n h (Xdn_ l ) / p _ 1

dX

Table 1. Comparison of computations of V(r) in J0 and J, domains over a three-layer earth having parameters: p, = 1 11-m, p2 = 0.1 12-m, p, = 1
il-m, and A, = 1 m, h2 = 4 m.
Differences

V(r)

V(r)

V(r)

by J 0 filter
e q . (11)

M ooney a n d W etzel
(1956)

by J , filter
eq. (18)

(4 3)columns

(4 2)colum ns

0.50
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
6.00
8.00
12.00
16.00
24.00
32.00
48.00
64.00
96.00

0.2332
0.0830
0.0245
0.0138
0.0108
0.0086
0.0075
0.0062
0.0053
0.0042
0.0035
0.0026
0.0021
0.0015

0.2333
0.0829
0.0245
0.0138
0.0107
0.0086
0.0074
0.0062
0.0053
0.0042
0.0035
0.0026
0.0021
0.0015

0.2321
0.0824
0.0242
0.0136
0.0106
0.0085
0.0075
0.0061
0.0053
0.0042
0.0035
0.0026
0.0021
0.0015

0.0012
-0 .0 0 0 5
-0 .0 0 0 3
-0 .0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 1
-0 .0 0 0 1
-0 .0 0 0 1
-0 .0 0 0 1
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

-0 .0 0 1 1
-0 .0 0 0 6
-0 .0 0 0 3
-0 .0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 1
0.0000
-0 .0 0 0 1
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000
0.0000

Digital Linear Filter

1117

Table 2. Comparison of computations of H z (r) in J0 and / , domains over a two-layer earth having parameters: p, 300 fl-m, p2 100 fl-m, and
A, = 10 m. The frequency used is 100 Hz.
m ( r ) x 109
by J o filter

H\ ( r ) x 109
by J i filter

Differences X 109

(Re)

(Im)

(Re)

(Im)

(Re)

(Im)

50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450

-0 .2 8 4 6
-0 .2 6 1 1
-0 .2 3 8 0
-0 .2 1 5 5
-0 .1 9 4 4
-0 .1 7 4 6
-0 .1 5 6 1
-0 .1 3 9 1
-0 .1 2 3 4

- 2 .6 6 6
- 1 .2 2 7
-0 .7 2 1 4
-0 .4 6 8 0
-0 .3 1 8 0
-0 .2 2 0 5
-0 .1 5 3 4
-0 .1 0 5 3
-0 .7 0 0 1

-0 .2 8 4 3
-0 .2 6 1 3
-0 .2 3 8 0
-0 .2 1 5 6
-0 .1 9 4 4
-0 .1 7 4 6
-0 .1 5 6 1
-0 .1 3 9 1
-0 .1 2 3 4

- 2 .6 6 6
- 1 .2 2 7
-0 .7 2 1 4
-0 .4 6 8 0
-0 .3 1 8 1
-0 .2 2 0 6
-0 .1 5 3 4
-0 .1 0 5 3
-0 .7 0 0 2

0.00029
-0 .0 0 0 1 1
-0 .0 0 0 0 5
-0 .0 0 0 0 4
0.00002
-0 .0 0 0 0 1
0.00000
0.00001
-0 .0 0 0 0 1

-0 .0 0 0 0 8
-0 .0 0 0 0 5
-0 .0 0 0 0 4
-0 .0 0 0 0 3
-0 .0 0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 0 2
-0 .0 0 0 0 1
-0 .0 0 0 0 1

N o tin g th a t d T J d X = 0 a t the nth interface, it is easily seen on a

little reflection th a t the calculation o f the derivative of the
resistivity transform uses no o th er quan tities th a n those already
evaluated in com puting T{X). T he ad d itio n al tim e for th e com
p u tatio n of the derivative in the in p u t is negligible.
W ith the changes of variables given in eq u atio n (2), I p u t
equation (15) in the follow ing form
V( x) = ^ e ~
2k

dy.

(18)

The co m p u tatio n s of V according to this eq u a tio n for a threelayer case and th a t using the J 0 filter (K oefoed et al., 1972, p.
415 an d p. 418) are com p ared in T able 1. A co m p ariso n is also
m ade w ith the p o ten tial values of M ooney an d W etzel (1956).

Field
N ext consider the expression for the scattered vertical m ag
netic field, H\ ( r) , on the surface o f a layered earth due to a
vertical m agnetic dipole lying o n the ground,
H sz (r) = C

PaD(r)
D as an d
G hosh, (1974)

Pao(r)
by J j
filter

Differences

1.00
1.50
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
6.00
8.00
10.00
15.00
20.00
30.00
40.00
50.00
60.00
80.00
100.00
150.00
200.00

0.9824
1.0018
1.0682
1.2664
1.4565
1.6070
1.7186
1.8521
1.9146
2.0422
2.3171
3.1517
4.0431
4.8901
5.6832
7.1162
8.3668
10.8554
12.6718

0.9826
1.0018
1.0675
1.2644
1.4538
1.6038
1.7150
1.8482
1.9106
2.0387
2.3143
3.1503
4.0427
4.8905
5.6841
7.1175
8.3681
10.8562
12.6719

0.0002
0.0000
-0 .0 0 0 7
-0 .0 0 2 0
-0 .0 0 2 7
-0 .0 0 3 2
-0 .0 0 3 6
-0 .0 0 3 9
-0 .0 0 4 0
-0 .0 0 3 5
-0 .0 0 2 8
-0 .0 0 1 4
-0 .0 0 0 4
0.0004
0.0009
0.0013
0.0013
0.0008
0.0001

(19)

H ere C' is a co n sta n t a n d R(X) is o b tain ed from the recurrence

relation (K oefoed et al., 1972)
W i - u l R Une

R i _ , (X) =

u"y

- 2dtWi

1 + Wi. u i R iie ~ 2diW>

U sing the tran sfo rm atio n above,

m ( r ) = -

Table 3. Comparison of computations of paD(r) by Das and Ghosh

(1974) and by using / , filter over a four-layer earth having parameters:
p. = 1 fl-m, p2 = 2.5 O-m, p3 = 1 12-m, p4 20 il-m , and A, = I m,
h2 = 4 m, h3 = 2 m.

X2R ( X) J 0 (Xr) dX.

R(X) + X

dX.

The co m p u tatio n o f dR(X)/dX is sim ilar to th a t of dT(X)/dX.

Results o f the co m p u tatio n s of H sz (r) in the J 0 a n d J , dom ains
are co m p ared in T able 2.

Curvature of the potential

A dipole-dipole electrode configuration m easures the cu rv a
ture of the potential. T he general expression for the a p p aren t
resistivity m easured by a dipole-dipole array , poD(r), is
foe

Pao(r) = (1 - b)r2

- br3

X T ( k ) J , ( k r ) dX

X2T ( X ) J 0 (Xr) dX,

where b is a co n sta n t d epending u p o n the type o f dipole-dipole

configuration used. T ran sfo rm in g the J 0 d o m ain integral into
its co rresp o n d in g J , d o m ain integral, then
PaD(r) = r 2

T(X) + bX

dT( X)
dX

X J t (Xr) dX.

The above eq u atio n is co m p uted for a rad ial dipole-dipole

system (b = 0.5) a n d the results are co m p ared in T able 3 with
those of D as an d G h o sh (1974).
T he com p ariso n s in T ables 1-3 show th a t the co m p u tatio n

1118

Das

m ethod suggested here gives results as g o o d as o th er m ethods.

her help in th e p re p ara tio n of th e m an u scrip t, a n d to I. L undm ark for typing the m anuscript.

C O N C L U SIO N

T he tran sfo rm atio n presented in this p a p er unifies the c o n

cept of designing different digital linear filters for various com
p u tatio n s in electrical m ethods. A single J i filter m ay be used to
com pute different quantities m easured by any electrode o r coil
configurations em ployed in electrical m ethods. D esigning (with
ad eq u ate sam pling) a long J , filter, w hich co n tain s sufficient
tails a t b o th ends, an d storing it, a variable cut-off co nvolution
m eth o d should prove useful for m ost of th e co m p u tatio n s in
electrical m ethods. O ne can also use an o p tim u m length J x
filter w ith desired accuracy follow ing the technique of G u p ta sarm a (1982). H ow ever, storin g the spectrum o f the J l filter
function w ould be desirable for designing a filter to suit local
geoelectric situations w hich d em an d varying accuracy of filters.
T he present tran sfo rm atio n has wide applications in the
sim ultaneous evaluation o f H an k el integrals involving J 0 and
J ! Bessel functions, e.g., in three-dim ensional m odeling.
Besides electrical m ethods, the general applications of the
tran sfo rm atio n should also prove useful in o th er fields.
A C K N O W L ED G M E N T

I wish to th an k D . G u p ta sa rm a an d D r. S. K. V erm a for

m any helpful suggestions an d en couragem ent d u rin g the w ork.
P rof. D. S. P arasn is has m ade constructive an d helpful criticism
o f the m anuscript. T h an k s are also due to my wife M ak an i for

R EFEREN CES
Das, U. C., 1982, A note on designing digital linear filters for com
puting resistivity and electromagnetic sounding curves: Geophysics,
v. 47, p. 1456-1459.
Das, U. C., and G hosh, D. P., 1974, The determ ination of filter coef
ficients for the com putation of standard curves for dipole resistivity
sounding over layered earth by linear digital filtering; Geophys.
Prosp., v. 22, p. 765-780.
Davis, P. A., Greenhalgh, S. A., and Merrick, N. P., 1980, Resistivity
sounding com putations with any array using a single digital filter:
Bull. Austr. Soc. Expl. Geophys., v. 11, p. 54-62.
Ghosh, D. P., 1970, The application of linear filter theory to the direct
interpretation of geoelectrical resistivity m easurem ents: Ph.D. thesis,
Univ. of Delft, The N etherlands.
--------- 1971a, The application of linear filter theory to the direct
interpretation of geoelectrical resistivity sounding measurements:
Geophys. Prosp., v. 19, p. 192-217.
--------- 1971b, Inverse filter coefficients for the com putation of appar
ent resistivity standard curves for a horizontally stratified earth:
Geophys. Pros., v. 19, p. 769-775.
G uptasarm a, D., 1982, Optim ization of short digital linear filters for
increased accuracy: Geophys. Pros., v. 30, p. 501-514.
Koefoed, O., 1976, Progress in the direct interpretation of resistivity
soundings: Geophys. Pros., v. 24, p. 233-240.
Koefoed, O., G hosh, D. P., and Polm an, G. T., 1972, Com putation of
type curves for electromagnetic depth sounding with a horizontal
transm itting coil by means of a digital linear filter: Geophys. Prosp.,
v. 20, p. 406-420.
Mooney, H. M., and Wetzel, W. W., 1956, The potential about a point
electrode and apparent resistivity curves for a two-, three- and fourlayered e a rth : M inneapolis, The Univ. of M innesota Press.
W atson, G. N., 1966, A treatise on the theory of Bessel functions:
Cambridge, Cambridge Univ. Press, 2nd edition reprinted.