Application of UAVs, GNSS, and GIS in Minerals Mapping
A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Exploration Methods and Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 27 July 2026 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editors
Interests: earth observation; remote sensing; GIS; natural hazards; mapping; monitoring; InSAR
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: GIS; remote sensing; photogrammetery; hydrology; geological mapping
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Emerging remote sensing technologies have revolutionized geospatial analysis by addressing the growing demand for accurate, cost-effective, and timely geological data. In fact, the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) has opened new frontiers in geoscience. These technologies enable high-resolution data acquisition, precise geolocation, and advanced spatial analysis—facilitating more effective identification of mineral-rich zones, assessment of geological features, and monitoring of mining activities.
In light of this, the Special Issue, entitled “Application of UAVs, GNSS, and GIS in Minerals Mapping”, aims to explore and showcase cutting-edge methodologies and/or interdisciplinary approaches that highlight the transformative role of UAV, GNSS, and GIS technologies in revolutionizing mineral exploration, geological and mineral resource mapping.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, technical notes, and case studies covering (but not limited to) the following topics:
- UAV-based photogrammetry and remote sensing for mineral exploration;
- GNSS-supported field surveys and ground control for geospatial accuracy;
- GIS applications in mineral mapping, modeling, and resource management;
- Data fusion techniques combining UAV, GNSS, and satellite imagery;
- Innovations in 3D terrain modeling and geospatial analytics;
- Applications in environmental monitoring and post-mining assessment;
- Automation and AI-driven mineral detection workflows using geospatial data.
Moreover, we encourage you to send us a brief abstract highlighting the purpose of the research and the main outcomes, in order to verify at an early stage whether the contribution fits with the objectives of the Special Issue.
We look forward to receiving your valuable contributions.
Dr. Aggeliki Kyriou
Prof. Dr. Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- UAVs
- GNSS
- GIS
- photogrammetry
- remote sensing
- mineralogy
- spectroscopy
- exploration
- mapping
- geology
- mining
- monitoring
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