Fluxgate three-component magnetometers for cost-effective ground, UAV and airborne magnetic surveys for industrial and academic geoscience applications and comparison with current industrial standards through case studies

• Published in: Geomechanics for energy and the environment Vol. 20; p. 100117
• Main Authors: Gavazzi, B., Le Maire, P., Mercier de Lépinay, J., Calou, P., Munschy, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2019; Elsevier
• Subjects: Earth Sciences; Geophysics; Sciences of the Universe
• ISSN: 2352-3808; 2352-3808
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gete.2019.03.002

In applied geophysics, magnetic methods are used in a wide range of industrial and academic applications with environmental, engineering or exploration components (e.g. military ordnance detection, pipe detection, archaeology, resources exploration, geological mapping). According to the type of application and the scale of the study, surveys can be conducted on the ground or airborne, each having its own industrial standard. In ground survey applications single component or scalar gradiometers are widely used. In airborne surveys the intensity of the magnetic field is measured with scalar magnetometers and the disturbances of the aircraft are compensated with real-time compensation units. This paper proposes another approach using the latest developments on the use of fluxgate three-component magnetometers. They have a light weight, a low power consumption, are rugged and allow a simple magnetic compensation of the carrier. They can provide a more precise and/or a more cost effective alternative to current measuring standards. They can also be mounted on UAVs to fill the gap in measurement capabilities between ground and airborne surveys, and therefore offer a new range of applications. A review of four case studies concerning archaeology, unexploded ordnance detection, lithology and structural geology studies is presented to illustrate the possibilities of application of such an approach and how it compares to current industrial standards in ground and airborne surveys. •Magnetic surveys can be used in many applications dealing with geosciences.•Industrial and academic standard for measurement are different for each application.•Fluxgate magnetometers can be used to reduce cost in every application.•Fluxgate magnetometers can be used to compensate simply the surveying equipment.•Applications are presented for archaeology, UXO detection and resources exploration.