In a seismic survey, idealized subsurface illumination is generated using idealized
survey data. Then, the following three steps are performed during each of a sequence
of time intervals during the seismic survey. First, an incremental portion of actual
survey data is collected, using data acquisition equipment at a data acquisition
location. Second, the incremental portion of actual survey data is communicated
from the data acquisition location to a data processing location. Third, an incremental
portion of actual subsurface illumination is generated using the incremental portions
of actual survey data, to incrementally generate actual subsurface illumination
at the data processing location. It is determined if additional data acquisition
is desirable by comparison of the idealized subsurface illumination and the actual
subsurface illumination, in the data processing location. Then, any desirable additional
data acquisition is performed in the data acquisition location before the data
acquisition equipment leaves the data acquisition location.
