Trial airborne environmental and geological survey: an initial appraisal of relevance to land-use

A series of four trial airborne environmental and geological surveys was flown by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) in collaboration with the British Geological Survey (BGS) in June 1999; the trials were co-sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and the Environment Agency. The main objective of these surveys was to test the efficiency of the GTK airborne electromagnetic system in the mapping of potential pollution problems in the UK environment. Gamma spectrometric and magnetometric measurements were also collected to see to what extent these techniques provide complementary information. This report is an initial consideration of the multi-parameter airborne geophysical data in relation to land-use issues. A variety of earth science information for planning and development already exists. The baseline information is reviewed according to scale and resolution. It is noted that the airborne data is of a new type with regard to both information content and spatial continuity. The specific characteristics and advantages of the airborne geophysical data are emphasised. The trial survey data were obtained at high resolution and a large number of anomalous responses have been observed. Since the information is provided at a local-scale a number of issues concerning the nature of the responses observed and the underlying causes have been raised. It will be necessary to improve our understanding of the data before an unambiguous discussion of their specific relevance to land-use issues can proceed. In advance of detailed interpretations of the trial data, the data are presented and discussed in relation to their potential relevance to five land-use issues: (i) Waste planning/Planning and pollution control, (ii) Minerals Planning, (iii) Water supply and water resource protection/Coastal zone management, (iv) Urban regeneration/Peripheral development and new communities and (v) Agriculture and Forestry. It is acknowledged that there are differences between the information needed for planning the use of land, and information which is required for monitoring environmental strategies. The geophysical data appear to have greatest relevance to the latter requirement. Recommendations for ground and subsurface calibration of the data are made