EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS n AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING noise, and the component responses can be used individually in the interpretation of the data sets. In an agreement with Brisbanebased Gap Geophysics Australia, Discovery International Geophysics offers the HeliSAM technology for hybrid ground-airborne TEM and MMR surveys in North America. Discovery’s patented HeliWinder is used to deploy
transmitter wire 90% faster than traditional ground wire methods with corresponding added safety. A range of HeliWinder units are now available based on helicopter capacities and terrain conditions. The HeliWinder is particularly useful in mountainous and heavily forested terrain. Discovery began offering UAV magnetic survey capability using a
EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS
SILVER SPONSORS Condor North Consulting Mira Geoscience Nuvia Dynamics Paterson, Grant & Watson
Phoenix Geophysics Radiation Solutions Scintrex SJ Geophysics GEM Systems
BRONZE SPONSORS AGCOS
Precision Geosurveys
ClearView Geophysics
RMS Instruments
Computational Geosciences
Sander Geophysics
EMIT Eon Geosciences Geonics MPX Geophysics
SisProbe SkyTEM Canada Technoimaging Tensor Research Zonge International
New Resolution Geophysics
18 EXPLORATION TRENDS & DEVELOPMENTS | MARCH 2023
Geometrics MagArrow and a Skyfront Perimeter 8 hybrid gas-electric, heavylift drone. This system is designed for extended sortie surveying in difficult terrain conditions. The Skyfront heavylift drone will also be used to fly UAVSAM surveys at a lower frequency and lower cost than HeliSAM surveys. Gap Geophysics will continue commercialization for the UAVSAM (MMR and EM) system in Australia where they are seeking industry partners for final testing. It is anticipated that the UAV system will be able to achieve hovering stationary EM measurements with an active source (loop) and transmitter on the ground, using frequencies as low as potentially 0.5 or 1.0 Hz and above. Final testing will confirm these specs. With nearly all its airborne systems busy throughout the year, Geotech continued to dedicate a portion of its time to R&D testing. This included the successful introduction of a new generation of programmable VTEM TDEM transmitters, which permit adjustable transmitter waveform pulse width, shape, turn-off, and dipole moment. The new programmable VTEM transmitter system is currently deployed overseas. Research continues on Geotech’s new high-speed, full waveform, streamed VTEM DAS capable of recording full-time series transmitter and receiver VTEM TDEM data. The new streamed VTEM data acquisition systems are slated for introduction in 2023. Geotech also re-engineered its VTEM ET (early time) helicopter TDEM system, originally introduced in 2013 for near-surface high-resolution groundwater and engineering work. The new re-engineered VTEM ET system is targeted for re-introduction in late 2023. Encouraged by the demand for EM data acquisition at extreme altitudes, Geotech completed extensive field testing of a new modular version of the ZTEM Lite helicopter natural field EM receiver. ZTEM Lite features a new modular design that is more transportable than its single-piece, ZTEM Lite system. The new ZTEM Flyer is currently being flown commercially in South America with plans for additional systems to be deployed for porphyry copper and epithermal gold exploration in Argentina, Chile, and Peru in 2023. Flight testing continued in 2022 of Geotech’s next-generation ZTEM 3D system that aims to combine its AirMT prototype and full