Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Search and Prediction of Ore Mineralization

Abstract: This paper is dedicated to reviewing and analyzing domestic and foreign literature on the use of unmanned aerial vehicles to search and predict ore deposits in Russia and other countries. It is shown that unmanned aerial vehicles are widely used in our country for environmental monitoring; creating and updating digital cartographic information; referencing of images to geographic coordinates; etc. However, these technologies are used much less frequently in the search and prediction of ore mineralization. The effectiveness of their use is still low relative to other countries. Unmanned aerial vehicles are most actively being introduced in the oil and gas industry. At the same time, the use of these technologies can bring benefits in the main processes of geological exploration and prospect evaluation, as well as in the initial production stages, and reduce financial costs. The enterprises that occupy the leading positions in the development of commercial technologies to provide services for obtaining geospatial data and the development and application of unmanned aerial systems are considered. The regulatory framework for the use of unmanned aerial vehicles in the Russian Federation, as well as that of such leaders in this field as China and the United States, is analyzed. It is shown that, while unmanned technologies develop rapidly in some countries, regulatory and legal support does not always regulate their application being at different stages of the legislative process. © 2021, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.