Innovative Navigation Systems to Support Digital Geophysical Mapping

Abstract : Phase I demonstrated the basic navigation technologies without geophysical equipment and Phase II integrated the Geonics EM-61 MK1 and demonstrated at the McKinley Range, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, Alabama. This report covers the Phase III demonstrations of innovative navigation systems to support geophysical mapping and related Phase IV development efforts. Phase III continued to focus on positioning equipment integrated with a Geometrics G-858 magnetometer geophysical sensors applied in the search for potential ordnance and explosive (OE) items. Demonstrations were performed at the Aberdeen Proving Ground unexploded ordnance (UXO) Demonstration Site, Aberdeen, Maryland. Phase IV focuses on collecting and integrating complete position information: x, y, z, multi-axis twist, tilt and rotation of a sensor head as applied to typical and advanced sensors under EQT and Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) development. For Phase III, four demonstrators were evaluated for their position performance in the open at the calibration lanes, for obstructions in the woods, and for the effect of slope and elevation at the mogul test scenarios. Eleven individual tests using 78 surface fixed points, 35 interrogation areas, and the subsurface anomalies were performed and evaluated to measure accuracy of the navigation equipment and the system when integrated with a geophysical sensor. The focus was to measure the effect of obstructions and terrain, and the ability to collect accurate dense anomaly interrogation data for small areas.