Application effect analysis of UAV aeromagnetic survey technology in desert and semidesert regions

The UAV aeromagnetic survey technology has continuously developed and gradually applied to different geomorphic landscape areas. This study aims to verify the application effects of the UAV aeromagnetic survey technology in the desert and semidesert regions in China. To this end, the applicability tests of UAV types were performed according to the characteristics of the natural environment in the desert and semidesert regions. Then the applicability of multi-rotor UAVs and vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing UAVs in the desert and semidesert regions was assessed from the ability to resist wind, terrain-following ability, battery life, efficiency, and the quality of data acquisition. Through the qualitative and quantitative comparative analysis of the results obtained from UAV aeromagnetic surveys and ground magnetic surveys, the practicability and reliability of the UAV aeromagnetic survey technology in the desert and semidesert regions in West China was measured. It is considered that UAV aeromagnetic survey technology enjoys the advantages of high precision of data collection and high efficiency compared to the ground magnetic survey. Therefore, the UAV aeromagnetic survey technology is worthy of widespread application as a geophysical prospecting method and technique.