The High Resolution Airborne Resource and Environmental Survey- (Phase 1) (HiRES-1): background, data processing and dissemination and future prospects

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the HiRES-1 airborne geophysical survey of Central England. The BGS and World Geoscience (UK) Ltd. carried out the survey jointly in 1998. The three main survey data sets acquired were magnetic, radiometric (gamma ray spectrometry) and Very Low Frequency (VLF) electromagnetic. The main aim of the report is to provide information on the acquisition, processing and storage of the final data and map products produced by the HiRES-1 project. Additional descriptions of ground truthing activities, data licensing and dissemination are also provided. A significant aspect of the project was the assessment of the potential of, and issues raised by, modern, multi-parameter, regional-scale airborne geophysical surveys in the UK context. Some of the main issues outlined in the report are: • The practical difficulties of conducting extensive low level, fixed-wing geophysical surveying in the UK. Issues discussed include CAA regulatory permissions, flight height adjustments above conurbations and surveying near areas with dense air traffic. • The processing challenges introduced by cultural (nongeological) influences on high resolution airborne magnetic data sets in the UK. • The significant amounts of detailed geological and environmental information contained within the radiometric data. • The weak application potential provided by passive (i.e. VLF) measurements, in contrast to active airborne electromagnetic techniques. The future prospects for regional-scale, airborne geophysical surveys in the UK are considered. Such prospects are also influenced by a further set of trial airborne data, obtained in 1999, but not described here. Further detail of the HiRES-1 survey, productivity, technical specifications and data pre-processing are contained in the survey logistics report prepared by WGL: ‘British Geological Survey “Hi-Res Phase One” Airborne Geophysical Survey (Survey Details, Technical Specifications & Processing Summary)’ (WGL 2000)