Join us for a hybrid lunch in October

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2025 

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Talk Title: Autonomous Mapping Applied to Geology and Infrastructure

Speaker: Ronald S. Bell, Senior GeoDRONEologist

In 2025, the deployment of an autonomously operated aerial vehicle (UAV) fitted with a specialized sensor or sensor package to map the surface of the earth is widespread, though not quite so prevalent to be considered routine for mapping geology. A UAV (aka “drone”) configured with a magnetometer to map spatial variations in the Earth’s magnetic field is routine when the objective is to detect and delineate pipelines and O&G wells made of steel or iron and it is a common tool for mineral exploration. Drone enabled electromagnetic methods for mapping near-surface geology and delineate buried metallic objects are gaining acceptance in several market sectors. The recent Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) announcement by FAA pertaining to the beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight operations will no doubt lead to a dramatic increase in the utilization of drones for geoscience mapping and assessing the status of buried infrastructure. The Age of Geoscience Autonomy has arrived.

Resource explorationists, environmental geoscientists, and civil engineers are increasingly “on board” with the concept of deploying drones to collect a multitude of geoscience data, including LiDAR, color photo-imagery, multi- and hyper- spectral data, and thermal imagery. For many investigations, the surface geoscience data complimented surface geoscience data including magnetic, electromagnetic, and gamma ray spectrometry geophysics data. The primary reasons are low cost per data point, increased data volume, and diminished risk. Nevertheless, there are limitations to deploying an airborne robot. Poor weather conditions are the number one deterrent to collecting geoscience data via a drone. As a result, autonomously operated terrestrial or marine vehicles will be deployed to collect geoscience data.

I will begin my presentation by reviewing the benefits and issues of geoscience mapping using drones including a review of the state of the art of UAVs and sensors. This will be followed by the presentation of drone geoscience data from several use cases including applications to groundwater and mineral resource exploration, locating legacy oil and gas wells, and mapping of subsurface infrastructure.

Biography:

Ron is a globally recognized advocate for the application of airborne robots, aka “drones”, to collect geophysical and remote sensing data, primarily to explore for earth resources and environmental site characterization. He began his career as a mineral exploration geophysicist where he collected, processed, visualized, and interpreted ground, borehole, and airborne geophysical data for base and precious metal exploration. His has worked on resource exploration projects in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Far East Russia. In addition, he has performed numerous geophysical surveys for environmental and engineering subsurface site characterization.

In 1986 to 1991, he help found and served as the marketing specialist for a geophysical software company. From 1991 through 2006, he focused on ground and airborne geophysics ( i.e. magnetic and EM) applied to mineral, hydrocarbon, and groundwater exploration. From 2006 through 2009, he worked for hydroGEOPHYSICS, Inc. to build the market for a novel electrical technology for monitoring fluid flow within geologic materials. In 2009, he returned to geophysical services and consulting.

In 2016, Ron conducted a number of drone magnetic surveys map subsurface geology and precisely locate oil and gas infrastructure using the prototype of the MagArrow, an innovative drone magnetometer. In 2022, he deployed the EM61Lite, drone drone-enabled deep-looking EM metal detector to map buried pipelines and locate metallic objects. Also in 2022, he did his first survey using the GEM2 UAV, a drone enabled EMI conductivity meter to map shallow soil and rock.

In 2024, he formed Drone Geoscience, LLC, a geophysical and remote sensing service provider located in the Denver, CO area with office in Houston, TX.

Ron holds a BSc in Applied Physics from Michigan Technological University in 1976. In the early 80’s, he completed non-degree geologic course work at the University of Colorado Denver.

Download Abstract and Bio

Hybrid luncheon schedule:

• 11:15am: In-person check-in opens
• 11:30: Lunch service begins
• 12:00pm: Online event opens
• 12:15pm: Talk begins
• 1:00pm: Talk/Q&A session ends; Online event closes

Hybrid Luncheon costs:

• Member Lunch: $35
• Non-Member Lunch: $40
• Walk-in without Lunch: $15
• Member Online: $10
• Non-member Online: $20
• Student online: Free

Refund policy:

If you need to cancel an in-person lunch registration for any reason, you must do so by 4:00pm on the Thursday before the Wednesday luncheon. Refunds will not be available after 4:00pm on the Thursday before the luncheon. If you are unable to attend, your luncheon registration is transferable to another RMAG member, or if you are a non-member your registration is transferable to whomever you wish. Refunds will not be issued for online talk registrations.

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