Drone GPR and LiDAR reveal subsurface ice in Quebec's rock glaciers

The challenge

Rock glaciers hold clues to how permafrost and climate are changing, but many are poorly studied. The Chic-Choc Mountains have steep ground, remote valleys and dense subarctic forest, so cart or handheld GPR is not practical. SPaRS-Lab needed terrain models under thick vegetation, radar deep enough to find ice-rich zones, safe low flights over rocky slopes, and kit light enough to carry several kilometres on foot.

The solution

The team combined drone GPR with LiDAR and photogrammetry. SPH Engineering's Zond Aero LF GPR flew on a DJI M350 RTK with the SkyHub onboard computer. Low-altitude True Terrain Following routes were planned in UgCS. A DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR and optical imagery produced the elevation models and orthophotos that gave context to the radar data. Measur supplied and supported the equipment.

The results

• LiDAR point clouds of about 450 pts/m² showed ridges, furrows, lobes and deformation typical of rock glaciers.
• GPR profiles, processed in Prism2, showed inclined reflectors, broken layers and strong-amplitude zones that may be ice-rich permafrost or buried ice.
• The 100 MHz antenna reached up to about 20 m, over both rocky and organic-rich ground.
• The M350 RTK flew steadily in moderate wind and light rain, and SkyHub kept the radar working at low altitude.

Deliverables included elevation models, point clouds, orthophotos, interpreted radargrams and a combined 3D dataset. Dr Kynan Hughson of the University of New Brunswick said this data could not have been collected without aerial access.

Where this applies in India

• permafrost and rock glacier research in high mountain regions;
• slope and geohazard studies ahead of hill roads, tunnels and hydropower projects;
• remote survey sites that must be reached on foot with light kit;
• climate research combining LiDAR terrain models with subsurface radar.

SPH Engineering's GPR training is also available through HobiTech.

The equipment, available from HobiTech

Ground penetrating radar	RadSys Zond Aero LF
Onboard computer	SkyHub by SPH Engineering with the SkyHub GPR software and True Terrain Following
Flight planning	UgCS - Drone Flight Planning Software
Drone	DJI Matrice 350 RTK
LiDAR	DJI Zenmuse L2 was used in this project. Ask us about LiDAR options.
Processing	Prism2

Case study by SPH Engineering, published December 2025. This page summarises it in our own words; the research was carried out by SPaRS-Lab at the University of New Brunswick, with equipment from Measur, not by HobiTech. Read the original case study on SPH Engineering ↗