Aeromagnetic surveying using a simulated unmanned aircraft system. (21st October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caron, Raymond M.; Samson, Claire; Straznicky, Paul; Ferguson, Stephen; Sander, Luise
• Is Part Of: Geophysical prospecting. Volume 62:Number 2(2014:Mar.)
• Page Start: 352
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2013-10-21
• Subjects: Prospecting -- Geophysical methods -- Periodicals; 622.15
• DOI: 10.1111/1365-2478.12075
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0016-8025

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <p>Carleton University and Sander Geophysics are developing an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for aeromagnetic surveying. As an early indication of the expected performance of the unmanned aircraft system, a simulated unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) was built. The simulated unmanned aircraft system is a T‐shaped structure configured as a horizontal gradiometer with two cesium magnetometers spaced 4.67 m apart, which is the same sensor geometry as planned for the unmanned aircraft system. The simulated unmanned aircraft system is flown suspended beneath a helicopter.</p> <p>An 8.5 km<sup>2</sup> area in the Central Metasedimentary Belt of the Grenville Province, near Plevna, Ontario, Canada, was surveyed with the simulated unmanned aircraft system suspended 50 m above ground. The survey site was chosen on the basis of its complex geological structure. The total magnetic intensity (TMI) data recorded were compared to that obtained during a conventional fixed‐wing survey and a ground survey. Transverse magneto‐gradiometric data were also recorded by the simulated unmanned aircraft system.</p> <p>The simulated unmanned aircraft system total magnetic intensity data have a higher resolution than the conventional fixed‐wing data and were found to have a similar resolution to that of the ground survey data. The advantages of surveying with the simulated unmanned aircraft system were: (1) the acquisition of a detailed data set free of gaps in coverage at a low altitude above the terrain and (2) substantial saving of time and effort.</p> <p>In the survey site, the 4.67 m simulated unmanned aircraft system gradiometer measured the transverse magnetic gradient reliably up to an altitude of 150 m above ground.</p> </abstract>