Advances in Airborne Geophysics

Airborne geophysical data provide valuable information of the Earth’s subsurface and may be acquired for varying purposes including geotechnical, groundwater, mineral and petroleum exploration, environmental and geodesy applications. Airborne geophysical data is inherently rapid in its acquisition and has the capacity for significant cost savings while allowing access to areas too difficult or expensive to reach using traditional methods. Recent advances in gravity gradiometric and electromagnetic technologies in particular have led to significant improvement in sensitivity, resolution, depth of investigation and interpretability of airborne geophysical data. Since inception in 1999, the FALCON Airborne Gravity Gradiometer (AGG) has undergone continual and significant development with noise levels being halved since 2004. Further dramatic gains in both sensitivity and spatial resolution have been made possible through the adaptation of this technology to use in light helicopter platforms. Airborne electromagnetic technology is more mature, however recent significant increases in system power and innovation to the receiver platform technology have led to improved signal to noise ratios and enhanced target detectability. The introduction of 3 component receiver coils to helicopter platforms have also increased the understanding and interpretability of detected conductors.