UXO Survey

Quickly survey areas for Unexploded Ordnance threats

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Unexploded ordnance or UXO are potentially dangerous munitions of all sizes that remain buried in the earth.  Even today there is a residual amount of UXO’s in the ground, despite clearance activities.  For example, not less than 1.9 million tons of bombs and ammunition were dropped over Germany during World War II. 70 years later, thousands of UXO remain in the ground.

Where there is a UXO risk the requirement becomes finding the UXO through surveying and performing UXO clearance activities until the site is clear and it is approved for safe use.

Drone UXO Surveys

Magnetometry locates buried military ordnance by measuring differences in the earth’s magnetic field arising from ferrous content in the target ordnance.   There are a number of benefits to a Drone UXO Survey:

  • This is non-intrusive as there is no energy transmitted from the sensor
  • It is non-intrusive as the team does not, necessarily, need to walk on the area (subject to limitations)
  • Access areas impossible to do on foot (intertidal mud, marsh etc)
  • Many UXO have magnetic signatures
  • This method has the highest survey efficiency in terms of ground coverage per day
  • Magnetic UXO surveys work in many different geosocial conditions

REDUCING COST

However, there are limitations including the effects of surface clutter on magnetic readings and magnetic background in certain geological terrains.

We are drone data collection experts, and we will work with your UXO specialist to quickly survey the area to:

  • Speed the UXO survey process
  • Enable more targeted detailed investigations (reducing cost)

If you have not appointed a UXO specialist we can assist you in that process.

THE SENSOR PLATFORM

This drone is a customised DJI M210 which has a radar system to enable the drone to accurately fly as low as 60cm from the ground and carry a magnetometer.  The primary use of this drone is in the detection of UXO in difficult to access areas, but it can be used to find other targets.

The sensor consists of two built-in 3-axis Fluxgates with 150pT resolution with a 200Hz sampling rate.  It is also designed to  distinguish between motor noise, net frequencies, temporary interferences and ground signal.