Harnessing Spatial Analysis with GIS to
Improve Interpretation of Airborne
Geophysical Data
Department of Geographical Sciences and Planning,
University of Queensland
Presented at the second annual conference of GeoComputation ‘97 & SIRC ‘97, University of Otago, New Zealand, 26-29 August 1997
Abstract
Modern airborne geophysical surveys are collecting large quantities of high quality data for applications ranging from mineral exploration to environmental problem solving. As a result, there is a growing need for new interpretation methodologies to maximise the amount of information which can be extracted from survey data. This is especially true in the relatively new environmental application areas where interpretation methodologies are not yet well established.This paper reports on a research project in which spatial analysis with GIS has been adopted as an approach to improve the interpretation of airborne geophysical data for salinity studies. The paper discusses the general and particular interpretation problems for this application; proposes a new methodology for interpretation based on spatial analysis with GIS to address these problems; and concludes with the implications of this work for interpretation of airborne geophysical data for other applications.
Geophysics has long been a field which has made use of leading edge computer-based technology to acquire and process data. However, many areas of the analysis and interpretation of the data are still relying largely on visual interpretation. The advances being in made in computational geography, especially in terms of developing spatial analysis tools on a GIS platform, have the potential to make a significant impact on the interpretation of geophysical data.