On October 1, 2024, the full-day workshop “DroneSOM – Mineral Exploration Mapping Tools Using Machine Learning and Drone Geophysics” was held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Windhoek, attracting significant interest.
It was conducted in the frame of the SEG (Society of Economic Geologists) 2025 Conference in Windhoek, Namibia as a post-conference workshop. More information can be found here:
https://www.segweb.org/SEG-2024/Program/Workshops/SEG-Conference/SEG-2024/Workshops/WS05.aspx
Over 40 participants, including professionals and students, gathered to learn about drone technology and machine learning used by DroneSOM for predictive mineral mapping and exploration targeting.
Led by experts from Beak Consultants GmbH, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Radai Oy, and DTU Space, the workshop showcased innovative integrations of gravity and electromagnetic sensors into drones. Participants received hands-on training in machine learning techniques such as self-organizing maps and artificial neural networks applied to geophysics.
Key topics covered included:
- Planning and executing drone-based geophysical surveys
- Processing and interpreting electromagnetic and gravimetric data
- 3D inversion of electromagnetic data
- Using software for mineral predictive mapping in 2D and 3D
The event was a great success, offering valuable insights into the future of mineral exploration and fostering networking and collaboration among attendees.
We thank the presenters for sharing their expertise and all participants for their active engagement. The workshop was part of the DroneSOM project, co-funded by EIT RawMaterials.
