Water and Environment
Mapping Water – Special challenges, local solutions
The ability to reveal the availability and movement of water is a huge asset for countries and regions wanting to manage resources and respond to natural disasters.
The SkyTEM method, developed initially to identify and characterize aquifers, is widely accepted globally as the best technique for mapping water resources. Distinct from conventional airborne TDEM systems designed as single purpose sensors that push through the top few hundred metres to detect “bumps” or strong mineral contrasts, SkyTEM is capable of mapping subtle changes between sand, clay, silt, gravel, and tills that define the location and potential vulnerability of aquifers. The Danish Ministry of Environment has to date mapped over one third of the country’s aquifers with SkyTEM. Hydrogeology divisions of governments worldwide routinely select SkyTEM technology over all others to map their water resources. Read more about mapping of buried valleys in Denmark here, and conclusions here.
SkyTEM technology offers digital data that is used for creating detailed 3D geological representations of the subsurface down to 500 metres. These representations can be used for a variety of different applications and is a vital factor for setting up reliable and usable hydrological models in respect to sustainable Water management. SkyTEM Surveys has surveyed around 35% of Denmark’s total area for the purpose of groundwater protection and management.
Read more about the national project on the Geological Survey of Denmark’s website and the HydroGeophysics Group’s website (Aarhus University).