Quality control in airborne geophysics

Summary Onshore exploration technology continues to evolve with the arrival of new airborne instrumentation systems. Central to this has been the need to also evolve quality control processes that ensure useable signal is being captured during the surveying process, even though the true value add occurs at a later time. Gravity gradiometry is now well established, and able to provide independent mapping detail to wavelengths of less than 400 m. Airborne electromagnetic data is also starting to provide cross-sections that are reflecting actual geology bodies in terms of dips and thicknesses. The quality control (QC) technology applied across the industry is not uniform, and sometimes inappropriate for new datatypes being acquired. Government contract specifications can help. Also improved software tools being generally available and having trained operators, is an emerging requirement. This critical aspect includes fit for purpose geophysical gridding.