Case study by SPH Engineering · Ground Penetrating Radar · UXO detection
How well does airborne GPR detect UXO and landmines?
SPH Engineering and SENSYS flew a RadSys Zond Aero 1000 MHz "NG" GPR over the SENSYS GeoMIL test range, where disarmed ordnance, landmines and scrap were buried on purpose. The test shows what drone GPR can and cannot do in this work.
The challenge
GPR can image both metallic and non-metallic objects underground, which makes it interesting for UXO and landmine work. The team wanted to test whether a drone-mounted GPR is a practical detection tool, and under which conditions.
The solution
The mission was planned and flown in UgCS EXPERT. A DJI M300 RTK carried the Zond Aero 1000 MHz "NG" GPR, with SkyHub by SPH Engineering controlling the flight and logging data. True Terrain Following with a laser altimeter kept the height constant. Three flights at 1 m/s, 0.6 m above ground and about 0.5 m between lines covered the range.
The results
- Of 45 valid targets, 14 were correctly recognised. Some showed up on several profiles, up to about a metre to the side.
- Evenly shaped targets, such as anti-tank mines and helmets, were easiest to detect.
- Long, thin targets were mostly harder to see, unless the flight line crossed them at right angles.
- Where targets were detected, the GPR gave reliable depth estimates and sometimes an idea of size.
What the study recommends
The test range had flat ground, low vegetation and uniform soil. The report warns that results may be worse in rough terrain or mixed soils. It does not recommend drone GPR as a stand-alone UXO tool. Instead, it may help as a second sensor next to a drone magnetometer or EMI system, mainly to estimate target depth. That means two systems and at least twice the survey time.
Where this applies in India
- adding depth estimates to drone magnetometer surveys of former firing ranges and defence land;
- research and trials by defence and geophysics labs on controlled test sites;
- pre-construction checks on flat, low-vegetation land where buried ordnance is suspected.
SPH Engineering's GPR training and magnetometer training are also available through HobiTech.
The equipment, available from HobiTech
| Ground penetrating radar | RadSys Zond Aero 1000 "NG" |
| Onboard computer | SkyHub by SPH Engineering with the SkyHub GPR software and True Terrain Following |
| Flight planning | UgCS - Drone Flight Planning Software: UgCS EXPERT was used in this test |
| Primary sensor (recommended) | The study advises pairing GPR with a drone magnetometer or EMI system. See our drone magnetometers. |
| Drone | DJI M300 RTK was used in this test. Ask us for current compatible drones. |
Case study by SPH Engineering, published November 2023. This page summarises it in our own words; the test was carried out by SPH Engineering and SENSYS, not by HobiTech. Read the original case study on SPH Engineering ↗
Planning a UXO survey?
Tell us the site, the terrain and what you expect to find. We will recommend the magnetometer, GPR, drone, SkyHub and UgCS setup, quoted in rupees with a GST invoice.