Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-Based Vector Magnetic Survey System for Geophysical Exploration

基于无人机 (UAV) 的地球物理勘探矢量磁测系统

• 批准号: 571267-2022
• 负责人: Mann, Ian
• 金额: $ 1.46万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Idea to Innovation
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=729120
• 关键词: Unmanned; Aerial; Vehicle; UAV; Based

Magnetic field measurements are used by geophysicists to determine where and what mineral resources lay underground. These magnetic surveys are typically scalar, measuring only the strength of the magnetic field, but not it's direction. Vector measurements, which include both the strength and direction of the magnetic field, are more difficult to obtain as this method requires a magnetometer sensor capable of measuring the strength and direction, as well as knowledge of the sensor's direction when each measurement is made. While uncommon, vector surveying is critically important for identifying some mineral targets. Most vector magnetic surveys and many non-vector surveys currently rely on expensive piloted aircraft to carry magnetometers and make magnetic measurements over a wide area. The magnetic surveying industry has shifted rapidly towards using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for conducting scalar magnetic surveys. UAVs are able to fly lower to the ground and make measurements with tighter spacing than piloted aircraft which improves survey resolution, in addition to being much less costly to operate. However, currently there is no known UAV-based system capable of making vector magnetic measurements available in Canada. The team behind this proposal at the University of Alberta has already developed a vector magnetometer that was originally designed for space satellites, and is now seeking to integrate it with a Canadian UAV to create a low cost system for conducting high resolution vector magnetic surveys. The space flight heritage of this sensor has driven it to have exceptionally low volume, mass and power draw while retaining extremely high measurement resolution, making it ideally suited for integration with a UAV. Demand for geophysical surveying services, including magnetic surveys is increasing due to strong and growing demand for many metals critical to electric vehicles and other renewable technologies. The magnetic surveying system resulting from this research will reduce costs and improve the quality of magnetic data that is available for resource exploration, helping Canada contribute to a sustainable future.

磁场测量被地球物理学家用来确定地下的矿产资源。这些磁测通常是标量的，只测量磁场的强度，而不是方向。包括磁场强度和方向的矢量测量更难以获得，因为这种方法需要能够测量强度和方向的磁力计传感器，以及在进行每次测量时传感器方向的知识。虽然不常见，但矢量测量对确定某些矿物目标至关重要。大多数矢量磁测和许多非矢量磁测目前依靠昂贵的有人驾驶飞机来携带磁力计，并在大面积上进行磁测。磁测行业已迅速转向使用无人驾驶飞行器（UAV）进行标量磁测。无人机能够飞得更低，比有人驾驶的飞机更紧密地进行测量，这提高了测量分辨率，而且操作成本更低。然而，目前还没有已知的基于无人机的系统能够在加拿大进行矢量磁测量。阿尔伯塔大学的这一提案背后的团队已经开发出一种最初为空间卫星设计的矢量磁力仪，现在正在寻求将其与加拿大无人机集成，以创建一个低成本系统，用于进行高分辨率矢量磁力调查。该传感器的太空飞行传统使其具有极低的体积，质量和功耗，同时保持极高的测量分辨率，使其非常适合与无人机集成。由于对电动汽车和其他可再生技术至关重要的许多金属的需求强劲且不断增长，对地球物理测量服务（包括磁力测量）的需求正在增加。这项研究产生的磁力测量系统将降低成本，提高可用于资源勘探的磁力数据的质量，帮助加拿大为可持续的未来做出贡献。