Introduction
DroneSOM.speed is dedicated to educating both current and future specialists in the latest tools and techniques used in mineral exploration. In addition to offering short courses, the project involves students by including them in field measurements. One of the students, currently doing his internship at Radai Oy, shared his experience with us.
Student background
Juho Pulkkanen is studying a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Information and Communication Technology at Oulu University of Applied Sciences. He plans to continue his studies with a Master of Science in Engineering, specializing in Electronics and Telecommunications.
Radai Oy plays an important role in DroneSOM.speed project by developing the electromagnetic measurement system. Juho joined the company thanks to his background in electronics, both as a hobby and through work experience. This prior knowledge proved valuable in the field, even though geophysics and geoscientific measurements were entirely new to him. Fortunately, the experienced field team at Radai has guided him through the world of drone geophysics.
Fieldwork story
In August, Juho spent field days in the field in Kiuruvesi. Before the field, the team began preparing the equipment—performing drone maintenance and flight tests. Proper preparation is essential to ensure smooth and efficient field days.
For Juho, the fieldwork was both exciting and educational. He learned about field procedures, safety protocols, and the importance of weather conditions in geophysical measurements. Flights were only conducted when the weather was suitable—too much wind or rain would stop operations. The field team checked the conditions continuously.
The team conducted a magnetic survey covering approximately 2,000 km of flight lines. Juho worked as a field operator and flight controller, responsible for tasks such as changing batteries, checking drone conditions between flights, and remotely monitoring the drones during operations. At peak times, three out of four drones were flying simultaneously. As is often the case in geophysical fieldwork, unexpected situations arose—but the experienced team handled them well, and Juho was never left to manage them alone.
Takeaways form the field
The field experience was highly valuable for Juho. He gained practical knowledge in flight operations, safety, and geophysical data collection. He has since continued his learning with the measurements in Kupukka, and we’re excited to see what the data output will be!
