Adding Ultra High Resolution Geospatial Data to Airborne Geophysical Data Collections

Background

The author has had his feet in both camps, airborne geophysics (magnetics, radiometrics, gravity, gravity gradiometry, time and frequency domain EM) and airborne geospatial (lidar, RGB/NIR imagery and hyperspectral as well as IFSAR and satellite) data collection over the last 30 years.

Looking at the customers, especially those exploring onshore for minerals, hydrocarbon, water and even salinity and agricultural exploitation of land resources, it is evident that almost all “serious” (i.e. with budget) explorers (i.e. your customers) are purchasers and users of geophysical and geospatial products. For any given area, multiple surveys are commissioned to obtain data for effective exploration.

What if geophysical and geospatial data collections could be combined into one capture? There would be significant reduction in capture cost and improvements in data fidelity, for an airborne geophysical survey company a significant increase in revenue.. With this in mind Klau Geomatics have built the Brumby System.

Klau Geomatics

Klau Geomatics have been an innovator, developer and integrator of survey grade GNSS positioning and mapping systems playing a significant part in the drone-as-a-survey-instrument avalanche. Recently we decided to move away from the drone focus as that segment is difficult to justify significant R&D and any innovation tends to mature rapidly. Staying though with our strengths of being aerial surveyors, surveyors, and hardware and software developers we have developed the Brumby LiDAR system. The Brumby is a low cost, high accuracy LiDAR/Camera integration. Combined with a very clever camera pod it is aimed at the gap in the market between drones and big expensive geospatial mapping systems. We are agile with a very strong focus on customer outcomes being exceeded and our reputation and testimonials prove this.

Brumby LiDAR

The Brumby LiDAR is a short range ultra high resolution ALS/MLS integrated with GNSS/IMU tightly coupled INS powered by our hardware integration and OEM tech from NovAtel. As a LiDAR for geophysical surveys the features and benefits of Brumby include;

• Super high point density
• No base station required (with high accuracy NovAtel Terrastar PPP)
• 0.03 degree high frequency roll/pitch/yaw correction data for sensor position and orientation (not just the LiDAR sensor, think magnetometers, receiver birds etc)
• Real time LiDAR altimetry
• Super simple and rapid data processing to LAS (point cloud) to generate a highly dense swath of accurate terrain below the survey aircraft
• Designed and built “like a tank”, IP67 rated
• Expandable, RGB/NIR, hyperspectral cameras and other sensors can be added

Significant data testing and validation has been completed to support all assertions of quality, resolution and accuracy

Pods and Sensors

The Brumby LiDAR or Brumby + Cameras/Sensors can be mounted as a modular system in an aircraft or in the Klau Geomatics wing strut pod for strutted fixed wing aircraft, helicopters or on towed arrays etc. Designed for simple installation and operation. Sensors can include the following (and more);

? LiDAR

? RGB Camera

? NIR Camera

? Multispectral Sensors

? Hyperspectral Sensors

? FLIR/MWIR/Gradient Thermography

Why Add Brumby LiDAR +?

There are many compelling reasons why LiDAR is already applied to geophysical surveys. In tech terms, the Brumby systems additionally offers;

? Higher resolution, fidelity and accuracy

? IMU roll/pitch/yaw outputs for other sensors

? Real time altimetry

In business terms, this opens up a massive opportunity. Now spatial data can be collected in the same flight as the geophysics capture.

? Acquired at same time as geophysical survey, so no second mobilisation for the spatial component and close to zero acquisition costs

? Data has significantly higher (LiDAR) point density and for imagery very high GSD when compared to traditional imagery captures – so, better data, better analytics, better interpretation

? And for the end client one contract, one audit, one engagement and a data set that is spatially and temporally contiguous.

We have prepared a financial model showing that a Brumby LiDAR/Capture System could (conservatively) add between $22 and $75 per line km in additional revenue at virtually no cost! An airborne geophysical data company could pay back the investment on a Brumby system in somewhere between 1 week and 4 months depending on activity. Other advantages include better processing and interpretation from the hi-fidelity terrain model and high accuracy sensor position and orientation. Real Time laser altimetry would significantly improve safety and flight efficiency.

But What About those Data?

Klau Geomatics are committed to developing this market! We are happy to offer if required Processing as a Service, Data Interpretation as a Service as well as data handling and dissemination as a service. Or we are happy to onboard and train our clients in the key aspects of data processing and explore all aspects of the workflows in a flexible, consultative manner.

Brett M. Johnson

COO

Klau Geomatics Pty Ltd

ph: +61 420 947 986 UTC +8

[email protected]

www.geomatics.com.au