CIG Ottawa Branch

Imaging and mapping geological scenes using UAVs

In the earth sciences, UAVs have the potential to bridge the gap between ground operations and airborne surveys done using manned fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. UAVs fly slower and at lower altitude, capturing images and data at very high resolution. They are easier and cheaper to deploy in remote areas, and do not expose pilots to the hazards of low-altitude flying.

 

This presentation will cover three recent UAV projects done at Carleton University for geological applications.

 

The first case history features the Aeryon Scout, a small quadrator (1.3 kg) equipped with a video camera. The Scout imaged rock walls along an exploration trench at the Canadian Wollastonite Mine near Kingston, ON. The project tested the integration of three technologies: video acquisition using a UAV, conversion of videos images to 3D point clouds using structure-from-motion software, and post-flight processing for rock mass characterization and visualization.

 

The second case history focuses on the design and development at Carleton University of two fixed-wing UAVs for airborne geomagnetic surveying: GeoSurv II (90 kg) and Corvus (21 kg). In anticipation of flights, a pilot project used a “simulated UAV” suspended beneath a helicopter to collect magnetic data over a major geological fold in Plevna, Ontario. Data from the “simulated UAV” were compared to ground data and regional data acquired using a fixed-wing aircraft.

 

The third case history presents magnetic data acquired using the Venturer (55 kg) fixed-wing UAV from Stratus Aeronautics in southern Alberta. The survey data was analyzed in details and shown to be of comparable quality as that from fixed-wing aircraft. A lighter (15 kg), rotary-wing UAV is under development at Stratus Aeronautics for combined airborne magnetic and orthophotographic surveys.

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Claire Samson, Ph.D., P.Eng.

Professor of Geophysics

Department of Earth Sciences

Carleton University

 

Originally from Quebec City, Claire Samson is a professional engineer with an undergraduate degree in engineering physics from Laval University, a Masters of Science in geological sciences from McGill University and a PhD in physics from the University of Toronto. Claire has a wide range of experience, both in industry and academia. She has been a research associate at Cambridge University in England, and has worked for the Shell Oil group at three locations in the Netherlands. Upon relocating to Canada in 2000, she joined Neptec Design Group, an Ottawa high-tech company specializing in vision systems for space applications. In 2003, she was appointed to the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University and

served as departmental Chair from 2010 to 2013. Claire now teaches introductory and advanced courses on Natural Disasters and Exploration Geophysics.

 

Claire’s research activities proceed on several fronts, including 3D imaging of earth materials, electromagnetic prospecting and planetary geology. In both her research and field work, Claire is keen to introduce new technologies such as unmanned air vehicles and laser imaging, and to

involve industry partners.