Aeromagnetic survey
An aeromagnetic survey is a common type of geophysical survey carried out using a magnetometer aboard or towed behind an aircraft. The principle is similar to a magnetic survey carried out with a hand-held magnetometer, but allows much larger areas of the Earth's surface to be covered quickly for regional reconnaissance. The aircraft typically flies in a grid-like pattern with height and line spacing determining the resolution of the data (and cost of the survey per unit area).
Method
As the aircraft flies, the magnetometer measures and records the total intensity of the
Airplanes are normally used for high-level reconnaissance surveys in gentle terrain, and helicopters are used in mountainous terrain or where more detail is required.
History
Aeromagnetic surveys were first performed in
Uses
Aeromagnetic surveys are widely used to aid in the production of
Unexploded ordnance
Aeromagnetic surveys are also used to perform reconnaissance mapping of unexploded ordnance. The aircraft is typically a helicopter, as the sensors must be close to the ground (relative to mineral exploration) to be effective. Electromagnetic methods are also used for this purpose.
UAV aeromagnetic survey
Recent developments in aeromagnetic surveying include the use of drones. The market of unmanned aerial systems is exponential development, so the arrival of these technologies in some niches was inevitable including geophysical surveys. UAVs have proven to be especially useful for mineral exploration, detection and identification. It is also possible to detect Unexploded Ordnance objects using a drone-mounted magnetometer.
See also
- Geophysics
- Exploration geophysics
- Remote sensing
- Mineral exploration
References
- Burger RH, Sheehan AF, Jones CH (2006) Introduction to Applied Geophysics. Published by W. W. Norton, 600 p., ISBN 978-0-393-92637-8.
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