Groundwater and Environment

Drilling boreholes is often not enough.  In most parts of the world groundwater mapping is based on only one data source – drilling information.  Consider however that a 6 inch borehole represents less than 1/millionth of one acre.  A borehole will provide precise information about geology in the immediate vicinity of the borehole but any inferences made about the surrounding geology is a leap of faith or at best a guess.

Suspended beneath a helicopter platform SkyTEM can cover large areas quickly (up to 1,000 kilometres per day in ideal conditions) delivering thousands of virtual boreholes along the survey flight path.

SkyTEM is a major technological breakthrough – one that changes how aquifers are mapped. It is the first system engineered with a Dual Moment transmitter design that allows for the collection of accurate images from both very shallow and deep geology (see below). The advanced engineering also includes FAST data collection, a low-noise receiver for detecting subtle geological changes and the ability to stay calibrated throughout acquisition so that depth and thickness of the groundwater aquifer can be modelled accurately.

The SkyTEM frame is aerodynamic and rigid and carries an array of ancillary sensors including a magnetometer, laser altimeters, video cameras and GPS equipment.