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.

地球物理学家利用磁场测量来确定地下矿藏的位置和种类。这些磁测量通常是标量的，只测量磁场的强度，而不测量磁场的方向。矢量测量，包括磁场的强度和方向，更难获得，因为这种方法需要一个能够测量强度和方向的磁力计传感器，以及每次测量时传感器方向的知识。矢量测量虽然不常见，但对确定某些矿物目标至关重要。目前，大多数矢量磁测量和许多非矢量磁测量都依靠昂贵的有人驾驶飞机携带磁力计，在广阔的区域进行磁测量。磁测量行业已经迅速转向使用无人驾驶飞行器（uav）进行标量磁测量。与有人驾驶飞机相比，无人机能够飞得更低，在更小的距离内进行测量，这提高了测量分辨率，而且操作成本也低得多。然而，目前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。阿尔伯塔大学提出这一建议的团队已经开发了一种矢量磁强计，最初是为空间卫星设计的，现在正在寻求将其与加拿大无人机集成，以创建一个低成本的系统，用于进行高分辨率的矢量磁测量。该传感器的空间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不断增长，对地球物理测量服务（包括磁测量）的需求正在增加。这项研究产生的磁测量系统将降低成本，提高可用于资源勘探的磁数据的质量，帮助加拿大为可持续的未来做出贡献。