Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review
This review explores the evolution and current state of aerial drones’ use in geophysical mining applications. Aerial drones have transformed many fields by offering high-resolution and cost-effective data acquisition. In geophysics, drones equipped with advanced sensors such as magnetometers, groun...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Drones |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/383 |
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| author | Dimitris Perikleous Katerina Margariti Pantelis Velanas Cristina Saez Blazquez Diego Gonzalez-Aguilera |
| author_facet | Dimitris Perikleous Katerina Margariti Pantelis Velanas Cristina Saez Blazquez Diego Gonzalez-Aguilera |
| author_sort | Dimitris Perikleous |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This review explores the evolution and current state of aerial drones’ use in geophysical mining applications. Aerial drones have transformed many fields by offering high-resolution and cost-effective data acquisition. In geophysics, drones equipped with advanced sensors such as magnetometers, ground-penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, and gamma-ray spectrometry have enabled more precise and rapid subsurface investigations, reducing operational costs and improving safety in mining exploration and monitoring. Over the last decade, advances in drone navigation, sensor integration, and data processing have improved the accuracy and applicability of geophysical surveys in mining. This review provides a historical overview and examines the latest developments in aerial drones, sensing technologies, data acquisition strategies, and processing methodologies. It analyses 59 studies spanning 66 drone-based geophysical applications and 63 geophysical method entries, published between 2005 and 2025. Multirotor drones are the most common, used in 72.73% of cases, followed by fixed-wing drones (12.12%), unmanned helicopters (9.09%), hybrid VTOL designs (3.03%), airships (1.52%), and one unspecified platform (1.52%). In terms of geophysical methods, magnetometry was the most frequently used technique, applied in thirty-nine studies, followed by gamma-ray spectrometry (eighteen studies), electromagnetic surveys (five studies), and ground-penetrating radar (one study). The findings show how drone-based geophysical techniques enhance resource exploration, safety, and sustainability in mining. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08a088d3236e47bfa2e39fe412857464 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2504-446X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Drones |
| spelling | doaj-art-08a088d3236e47bfa2e39fe4128574642025-08-20T03:14:39ZengMDPI AGDrones2504-446X2025-05-019538310.3390/drones9050383Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A ReviewDimitris Perikleous0Katerina Margariti1Pantelis Velanas2Cristina Saez Blazquez3Diego Gonzalez-Aguilera4ACCELIGENCE Ltd., 1066 Nicosia, CyprusACCELIGENCE Ltd., 1066 Nicosia, CyprusACCELIGENCE Ltd., 1066 Nicosia, CyprusCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainCartographic and Land Engineering Department, Higher Polytechnic School of Avila, Universidad de Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, SpainThis review explores the evolution and current state of aerial drones’ use in geophysical mining applications. Aerial drones have transformed many fields by offering high-resolution and cost-effective data acquisition. In geophysics, drones equipped with advanced sensors such as magnetometers, ground-penetrating radar, electromagnetic induction, and gamma-ray spectrometry have enabled more precise and rapid subsurface investigations, reducing operational costs and improving safety in mining exploration and monitoring. Over the last decade, advances in drone navigation, sensor integration, and data processing have improved the accuracy and applicability of geophysical surveys in mining. This review provides a historical overview and examines the latest developments in aerial drones, sensing technologies, data acquisition strategies, and processing methodologies. It analyses 59 studies spanning 66 drone-based geophysical applications and 63 geophysical method entries, published between 2005 and 2025. Multirotor drones are the most common, used in 72.73% of cases, followed by fixed-wing drones (12.12%), unmanned helicopters (9.09%), hybrid VTOL designs (3.03%), airships (1.52%), and one unspecified platform (1.52%). In terms of geophysical methods, magnetometry was the most frequently used technique, applied in thirty-nine studies, followed by gamma-ray spectrometry (eighteen studies), electromagnetic surveys (five studies), and ground-penetrating radar (one study). The findings show how drone-based geophysical techniques enhance resource exploration, safety, and sustainability in mining.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/383aerial dronesmininggeophysical prospectionaerial magnetometryground-penetrating radarelectromagnetic survey |
| spellingShingle | Dimitris Perikleous Katerina Margariti Pantelis Velanas Cristina Saez Blazquez Diego Gonzalez-Aguilera Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review Drones aerial drones mining geophysical prospection aerial magnetometry ground-penetrating radar electromagnetic survey |
| title | Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review |
| title_full | Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review |
| title_short | Aerial Drones for Geophysical Prospection in Mining: A Review |
| title_sort | aerial drones for geophysical prospection in mining a review |
| topic | aerial drones mining geophysical prospection aerial magnetometry ground-penetrating radar electromagnetic survey |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-446X/9/5/383 |
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