Aeromagnetic surveys are conducted by geoscientists to study subsurface geologic structures, such as faults. This type of survey uses a magnetometer mounted upon an airborne vehicle to collect magnetic field data. Magnetic anomalies are caused by variations in subsurface geology, namely in magnetic properties of subsurface rocks. Jacobson and Filina (2019) reported on the development of a new low cost drone, based magnetic field surveying system by the UNL Geophysics Team. This drone-based magnetic system is capable of collecting high resolution data at low speeds and low altitudes. The current study focuses on testing this system by conducting two flights over a known subsurface fault near Venice, NE in fall 2019.
1) FAA part 107 small unmanned aircraft license obtained to operate the drone.
2) The fault is visible from the processed data, but has a different trend with respect to previously published one.
3) Statistical analysis of the magnetic data in 20 crossing points shows an average difference of 2.1 nT.
4) Collected magnetic data generally agreed with the USGS’s published data. There is an average offset of 30 nT
