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Advances in Remote Sensing of Geophysical Surveys Based on UAV
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Advances in Remote Sensing of Geophysical Surveys Based on UAV

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 April 2025) | Viewed by 11398

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alex Nikulin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geological Sciences and Environmental Studies, Binghamton University—The State University of New York, Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
Interests: remote sensing; thermal imaging; unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV); landmines; deep learning
Dr. Farzaneh Dadrass Javan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Earth Observation Science, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands
Interests: UAV photogrammetry; computer vision; image processing; fusion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The emergence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has notably triggered interest in UAV-based geophysical remote sensing. UAV-based remote sensing utilizing lightweight sensors, such as multispectral, hyperspectral, and thermal infrared sensors, represents the most advanced disruptive technology to target research on adaptation strategies. Moreover, industrial development has witnessed the development of lightweight geophysical sensors, such as magnetometers, gravimeters, and GPRs, that are light enough to be installed on UAVs. Automated geophysical surveys, rapid wide-area landmine contamination detection, mapping surveys, and exploration geophysics are hot topics that can be studied using UAV-based remote sensing geophysics.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together cutting-edge research, innovations, and insightful perspectives on the utilization of UAVs in geophysical studies. UAVs offer numerous advantages for conducting geophysical surveys, including cost-effectiveness, streamlined design facilitating effortless transportation, autonomous navigation, ability to fly at low altitudes, and various other advantageous characteristics. These attributes position UAV-based geophysical methods as a harmonious fusion of traditional airborne and ground-based approaches, effectively harnessing the strengths of both methodologies simultaneously.

We encourage researchers, practitioners, and industry experts to submit original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance our understanding and utilization of UAVs in geophysics.

Related topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel UAV-based geophysical surveys;
  • Integration of UAVs with advanced geophysical instruments;
  • Passive and active sensors in UAV-based geophysics;
  • Application of UAVs for geophysical mapping and exploration, environmental monitoring, landmine detection and identification;
  • Data acquisition, processing, analysis, and integration;
  • Fusion of geophysical surveys;
  • Challenges, limitations, and future direction in the field of UAV-based geophysics.

Dr. Alex Nikulin
Dr. Farzaneh Dadrass Javan
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. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • geophysical survey and mapping
  • automated geophysical surveying
  • unpiloted aircraft system (UAS)
  • geophysical studies
  • magnetometers
  • gravimeters
  • GPR

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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22 pages, 60667 KiB  
Article
Viability of Substituting Handheld Metal Detectors with an Airborne Metal Detection System for Landmine and Unexploded Ordnance Detection
by Sagar Lekhak, Emmett J. Ientilucci and Anthony Wayne Brinkley
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(24), 4732; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16244732 - 18 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1520
Abstract
Commonly found landmines, such as the TM-62M, MON-100, and PDM-1, in the recent Russia–Ukraine war confirm the continued use of metals in munitions. Traditional demining techniques, primarily relying on handheld metal detectors and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems, remain state of the art [...] Read more.
Commonly found landmines, such as the TM-62M, MON-100, and PDM-1, in the recent Russia–Ukraine war confirm the continued use of metals in munitions. Traditional demining techniques, primarily relying on handheld metal detectors and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems, remain state of the art for subsurface detection. However, manual demining with handheld metal detectors can be slow and pose significant risks to operators. Drone-based metal detection techniques offer promising solutions for rapid and effective landmine detection, but their reliability and accuracy remain a concern, as even a single missed detection can be life-threatening. This study evaluates the potential of an airborne metal detection system as an alternative to traditional handheld detectors. A comparative analysis of three distinct metal detectors for landmine detection is presented: the EM61Lite, a sensitive airborne metal detection system (tested in a pseudo-drone-based scenario); the CTX 3030, a traditional handheld all-metal detector; and the ML 3S, a traditional handheld ferrous-only detector. The comparison focuses on the number of metallic targets each detector identifies in a controlled test field containing inert landmines and UXOs. Our findings highlight the strengths and limitations of airborne metal detection systems like the EM61Lite and emphasize the need for advanced processing techniques to facilitate their practical deployment. We demonstrate how our experimental normalization technique effectively identifies additional anomalies in airborne metal detector data, providing insights for improved detection methodologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Remote Sensing of Geophysical Surveys Based on UAV)
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30 pages, 16122 KiB  
Article
Delineation Protocol of Agricultural Management Zones (Olive Trees and Alfalfa) at Field Scale (Crete, Greece)
by David Chatzidavid, Eleni Kokinou, Nikolaos Gerarchakis, Ioannis Kontogiorgakis, Alessio Bucaioni and Milos Bogdanovic
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(23), 4486; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16234486 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1620
Abstract
This study proposes a three-stage, flexible and adaptable protocol for the establishment of field-scale agricultural management zones (AMZs) using remote sensing, ground truthing (apparent electrical conductivity and soil sampling), the IRRIGOPTIMAL® system and machine learning. The methodology to develop this protocol was [...] Read more.
This study proposes a three-stage, flexible and adaptable protocol for the establishment of field-scale agricultural management zones (AMZs) using remote sensing, ground truthing (apparent electrical conductivity and soil sampling), the IRRIGOPTIMAL® system and machine learning. The methodology to develop this protocol was applied to olive and alfalfa plots in Heraklion (Crete, Greece) to monitor soil and plant responses for the period 2022–2024. However, the actual time for the implementation of this protocol varies between 3 and 6 months. The first step of this protocol involves the use of soil and vegetation reflectance mapping (moisture, photosynthetic activity) by satellites and unmanned aerial systems, together with geophysical electromagnetic induction mapping (apparent electrical conductivity) to verify soil variability, which is strongly linked to the delineation of management zones. In the second step, a machine learning-based prediction of the spatial distribution of soil electrical conductivity is made, considering the data obtained in the first step. Furthermore, in the second step, the IRRIGOPTIMAL® system provides real-time monitoring of a variety of weather (such as air temperature, dew point, solar radiation, relative humidity, precipitation) and soil (temperature, moisture) parameters to support the optimal cultivation strategy for the plants. Once the data have been analysed, the soil variability of the plot and the presence or absence of cultivation zones are determined and the decision on the cultivation strategy is made based on targeted soil sampling and further soil analyses. This protocol could contribute significantly to the rational use of inputs (water, seeds, fertilizers and pesticides) and support variable rate technology in the agricultural sector of Crete. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Remote Sensing of Geophysical Surveys Based on UAV)
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71 pages, 7585 KiB  
Systematic Review
Unmanned Aerial Geophysical Remote Sensing: A Systematic Review
by Farzaneh Dadrass Javan, Farhad Samadzadegan, Ahmad Toosi and Mark van der Meijde
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17010110 - 31 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7287
Abstract
Geophysical surveys, a means of analyzing the Earth and its environments, have traditionally relied on ground-based methodologies. However, up-to-date approaches encompass remote sensing (RS) techniques, employing both spaceborne and airborne platforms. The emergence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has notably catalyzed interest in [...] Read more.
Geophysical surveys, a means of analyzing the Earth and its environments, have traditionally relied on ground-based methodologies. However, up-to-date approaches encompass remote sensing (RS) techniques, employing both spaceborne and airborne platforms. The emergence of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has notably catalyzed interest in UAV-borne geophysical RS. The objective of this study is to comprehensively review the state-of-the-art UAV-based geophysical methods, encompassing magnetometry, gravimetry, gamma-ray spectrometry/radiometry, electromagnetic (EM) surveys, ground penetrating radar (GPR), traditional UAV RS methods (i.e., photogrammetry and LiDARgrammetry), and integrated approaches. Each method is scrutinized concerning essential aspects such as sensors, platforms, challenges, applications, etc. Drawing upon an extensive systematic review of over 435 scholarly works, our analysis reveals the versatility of these systems, which ranges from geophysical development to applications over various geoscientific domains. Among the UAV platforms, rotary-wing multirotors were the most used (64%), followed by fixed-wing UAVs (27%). Unmanned helicopters and airships comprise the remaining 9%. In terms of sensors and methods, imaging-based methods and magnetometry were the most prevalent, which accounted for 35% and 27% of the research, respectively. Other methods had a more balanced representation (6–11%). From an application perspective, the primary use of UAVs in geoscience included soil mapping (19.6%), landslide/subsidence mapping (17.2%), and near-surface object detection (13.5%). The reviewed studies consistently highlight the advantages of UAV RS in geophysical surveys. UAV geophysical RS effectively balances the benefits of ground-based and traditional RS methods regarding cost, resolution, accuracy, and other factors. Integrating multiple sensors on a single platform and fusion of multi-source data enhance efficiency in geoscientific analysis. However, implementing geophysical methods on UAVs poses challenges, prompting ongoing research and development efforts worldwide to find optimal solutions from both hardware and software perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Remote Sensing of Geophysical Surveys Based on UAV)
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