In search for groundwater and aquifers a SkyTEM heliborne survey of dry places in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab (India) was inaugurated in Jodphur yesterday.
Read the entire article from Granthshala India here: https://granthshala.in/heliborne-survey-started-from-jodhpur-the-technology-in-the-helicopter-will-take-photos-of-the-water-and-aquifer-inside-the-ground-water-problems-will-be-solved-in-the-dry-area-by-preparing-a-geo/
The California Department of Water Resources has selected a team of consultants led by Ramboll to conduct airborne electromagnetic surveys in California’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins. The surveys will provide a standardized statewide dataset which will improve understanding of large-scale aquifer structures and support implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Groundwater is a critical source of water for both California farms and communities. The State of California enacted the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act which requires local agencies in high- and medium-priority groundwater basins to develop and implement groundwater sustainability plans.
To assist local agencies as they develop these plans, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys in California’s high- and medium-priority groundwater basins. The project will generate coarse-grid subsurface maps that provide framework information about large-scale aquifer structure. The AEM data supports the development or refinement of hydrogeologic conceptual models as well as helps to identify possible areas for recharging groundwater.
“Statewide AEM surveys will further DWR’s technical assistance services supporting local communities as they work to manage their groundwater supply to ensure its reliability,” said Steven Springhorn, acting DWR deputy director of statewide groundwater management.
“AEM data will give locals a better understanding of their groundwater basins and will provide a dataset that supports the overall implementation of SGMA and groundwater sustainability agencies’ development of groundwater sustainability plans.”
Taking an MRI of the ground’s subsurface
During an AEM survey, a helicopter tows electronic equipment that transmits radio waves to the ground and measures the response that returns. The process has been compared to taking an MRI of the ground’s subsurface, and the data collected is used to create continuous images that are interpreted for underground geology to a depth of about 1,000 feet.
The surveys are funded by voter-approved Proposition 68, Senate Bill 5, and the General Fund. The AEM project is expected to start this summer and DWR will hold a public webinar in advance to launch the project.
Local team with global knowledge
DWR has selected Ramboll, a consulting engineering group, to lead the team conducting the surveys and interpretating the data. Along with Ramboll, the team consists of GEI, a consulting engineering and environmental firm with five locations in California, and SkyTEM which will provide the AEM field survey.
“We are proud to support the implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act by providing high-quality data. With proven technology and solid experience from similar projects, we look forward to the exciting collaboration with DWR, the groundwater sustainability agencies as well as the people in California,” says Jeff Rogers, Director, Ramboll Water in the US.
The helicopter services needed for the AEM Survey are provided by Sinton Helicopters, located in in Paso Robles, California, and Aarhus University from Denmark will provide specialized academic expertise.
Ramboll and SkyTEM have previously conducted similar surveys in California as well as in other countries including Denmark, where the technology has been used to create detailed mapping of the country’s groundwater resources.
Rewarding collaboration
Denmark and California are sharing knowledge through the Danish Water Technology Alliance (WTA) where Ramboll and SkyTEM are participating. The 9th of March, Denmark and California took the next joint step on the way toward a more resilient, sustainable, and efficient water sector by signing a new Memorandum of Understanding.
“It is a great pleasure to hear that Danish expertise and technology will be a part of the Californian efforts related to sustainable groundwater management. In times of transition, international partnerships and knowledge sharing are essential. Therefore, we are very excited to be strengthening our collaboration with California and taking a joint step towards a climate-friendly water sector through the MoU we recently signed,” says Lone Dencker Wisborg, Ambassador of Denmark to the US.
For more information, visit DWR’s statewide AEM surveys project webpage.
Contact
For further information please contact:
Mandy Long, General Manager, SkyTEM North America, tel. +1 647 625 1311, email , or
Flemming Effersø, CEO SkyTEM Group, tel. +45 2510 8261, email
30% of drinking water (fresh non-salty water) remains under the ground, while 68% is in a frozen state and only 2% is available as surface water. As our available fresh water becomes increasingly scarce and valuable, many are calling groundwater the new oil. Helicopters can help to find it.
Airbus is a manufacturer of helicopters used for many purposes all over the world, also by SkyTEM. Read the story about how SkyTEM employs helicopters to find drinking water in Airbus’ newsroom here: Finding drinking water from above – Helicopters – Airbus
SkyTEM searching for water in the Langebaan/Saldanha Bay area, Western Cape
SkyTEM is currently conducting an airborne EM geophysical survey funded by the Saldanha Bay Municipality in collaboration with the Institute for Water Studies. This survey’s objective is to understand the geology and groundwater resources in finer detail which will aid in the attempt to manage groundwater resources in a sustainable manner. Article available here: https://sbm.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/Pages/Notices/Langebaan-Road-3D-Aquifer-Mapping-Project.pdf
SkyTEM water survey in New Zealand
SkyTEM is currently searching for underground aquifers in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand. Water resources are under pressure in the area, and the SkyTEM aerial technology is much more efficient than drilling holes. The technology can produce 3D maps down to 300 metres.
See the feature from 1 News here.
A SkyTEM survey conducted for the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) in India has located abundant freshwater beneath Tapi riverbed, which means that the city of Surat may never face drinking water shortage in future.
Read the entire article in Times of India here.
Residents and visitors of the Grand Canyon West and Truxton/Peach Springs areas may see a low-flying helicopter towing a large hoop hanging from a cable starting on or around March 10, 2018, and lasting approximately one to two weeks. The low-flying helicopter will collect and record geophysical measurements for scientific research conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey.
Read the entire article and see maps at USGS’ website: https://www.usgs.gov/news/media-advisory-low-flying-helicopter-survey-groundwater-near-grand-canyon-west-and-peach
Photo by USGS
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is studying the groundwater resources of the western Hualapai Reservation and Truxton Basin in northwest Arizona. The study area is adjacent to the Grand Canyon, where surveying will occur above the south canyon rim on the tablelands of the Hualapai Plateau and in the Truxton Basin near Peach Springs. The airborne geophysical data, to be acquired by SkyTEM Surveys, are intended for rigorous inversion and will be used to develop a detailed hydrostratigraphic framework to support USGS groundwater modeling efforts and local water-resource management in this arid desert region.
SkyTEM continues to deliver new technological advancements to the airborne EM industry with a combination of superior survey economics and exceptional exploration capabilities. The systems are designed to minimize costs and maximize results and will assist water agencies, geotechnical engineers and mineral exploration companies face and solve 21st century challenges.
The newly engineered SkyTEM306 HP and SkyTEM312 HP (High Power) systems are mounted on a revolutionary rigid and lightweight carbon fiber frame.
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Please contact SkyTEM for further details about the benefits of the two new revolutionary helicopter TEM system.