1. A method for identifying a buried metal object using a three-dimensional steerable magnetic field (3DSMF) system, comprising: (a) generating a magnetic field vector (MFV) at a first MFV position above the buried metal object; (b) measuring a time decay response at the first MFV position; (c) generating a MFV at a next MFV position above the buried metal object; (d) measuring a time decay response at the next MFV position; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) until a complete 360-degree measurement of time decay responses of the buried metal object is completed.