From September 1st to 5th, 2025, Beak Consultants GmbH and the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) jointly organized an in-person workshop at TU Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF). The event was held within the framework of the DroneSOM project, co-funded by EIT Raw Materials, and attracted participants from academia.
Workshop focus
The workshop provided insights into how machine learning techniques can be applied to mineral exploration. Participants learned how to integrate 2D and 3D data for mineral prospectivity mapping and exploration targeting.
Key topics included:
- Introduction to mineral prospectivity mapping with supervised and unsupervised methods
- Case studies and results from Europe and Africa
- Hands-on training with self-organizing maps (SOMs), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and other methods on 2D and 3D data
- Practical exercises in QGIS for 2D preprocessing
- 3D data visualization and interpretation
A practical, interactive learning experience
Beyond theoretical sessions, the workshop emphasized practical application. Participants gained valuable hands-on experience working with real datasets, strengthening their ability to apply modern AI-based techniques to real-world exploration challenges.
Looking ahead
The positive feedback from participants confirms the growing importance of machine learning in geosciences. With projects like DroneSOM, we continue to advance innovative solutions for efficient and sustainable mineral exploration.
For more information about the DroneSOM project, please visit About DroneSOM
