Whether they are used for geophysical surveys by the mining industry in site investigation tasks such as mine planning, mineral deposit exploration, slope monitoring or aeromagnetic mapping, by the oil and gas industry for pipeline inspection, offshore surveys, geological mapping or methane detection, or for academic or research purposes, drone surveys provide affordable and efficient performance, combined with a low environmental footprint.

Compared to commercial satellite photography or manned aircraft, drones capture much more detailed geophysical data and can also fly beneath clouds, so can be used in overcast weather. Ground surveys conducted on land tend to be limited by geographical obstacles and other terrestrial factors, and hiring a helicopter can be expensive, whereas UAV surveys offer enhanced accuracy and flexibility at around a tenth of the price.

Drones provide a stable, 360° aerial view, so the mapping of geological structures over large areas can be achieved quickly and precisely. Their ability to fly both low and slowly along a predetermined flight path, allows for high-resolution overlapping stereophotogrammetric photos to be taken, which can then be used to generate aerial maps and 3D models of the landscape using geological software. Furthermore, this data can be combined with other seismological and geotechnical surveys for a complete and holistic analysis of the site.

Rock glacier monitoring                   

For the past years, we have been involved in the observation and mapping of rock glaciers.

These imaging techniques allow for easy identification of the creeping motion of this permafrost phenomenon.