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Magnetic mapping

Posted by Matias Rajkay on January 27, 2010 at 12:03pm

Dear community:

Does anybody have experience using a UAV mapping Earth’s magnetic field with a 3axis magnetometer? Are there any sources of information suitable for beginnersin this?

 

I would like to experiment with some magnetic mapping of Earth’s magnetic field aroundour local area using my light, electro powered UAV as a carrier and a 3 axisMagnetometer.

 

I realize the HMC5843 which Jordi presented is not all that sensitive but it looks ideal fromsize and weight, and I would link it to a Data logger. I’m not thinking ofprospecting for anything in particular, but it would be interesting to see ifit would locate say power lines or metal bridges for example.

 

Any information would be appreciated

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Replies

  • Clinton P January 29, 2010 at 4:34am
    You write that you are not prospecting for anything in particular, so I assume you don't just want to map Earth's magnetic field but want to map anomalies or constructions like power lines, railways or whatever.

    Aeromagnetic surveys have been done before using 3 Axis Fluxgare mags even the NASA tried it years ago at the Itturalde crater in Bolivia using a small UAV. To my knowledge its also been done looking for mineral deposits or even buried treasure.
    However whether the 3 axis Mag Jordi presented or the Micromag suggested by Edouard is sensitive enough I wouldn't know.
    Be interesting to see how well it works if you try it !
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  • Edouard H January 27, 2010 at 2:45pm
    You might want to look at PNI micromag which is supposed to have a better resolution.

    Also, a wide scale magnetic model is freely available (see WMM here). Although there certainly are local variations, the magnetic field is supposed to remain pretty close to this model. See here for more details)
  • Overwatch January 27, 2010 at 12:49pm
    Before you dive into a full out project I recommend you first build a test rig - just a breadboard with a magnetometer and something to log the data, and then go out and run around the town. See if you measure anything at all. See if it's worth doing. Then you should add a motor, a radio and other EM gear to the test board to see how their interference influences the result.

    Personally (speculation) I don't think you'll get too close to the microtesla resolution if you'll have it running on a small self-propelled plane.
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