Case study Fieldwork techniques explained
Published:20 September 2022
Fieldwork is essential in the delivery of Geoscience Australias research programs, including the Exploring for the Future program.
At Geoscience Australia we are committed to best practice in land, air and marine access and protecting Australias cultural heritage and environment. As we prepare to undertake fieldwork activities we seek to establish mutually respectful and transparent relationships by engaging and informing as many stakeholders as possible about our proposed activities. Stakeholders may include, state and territory government partners, local communities, landholders, land managers, Native Title holders, Traditional Owners and Custodians.
With advances in technology we are able to study Australias geology to great depths with minimal or no ground disturbance using different techniques. Each technique measures different properties below the surface of the earth, to different depths. These techniques can be difficult to explain and therefore be understood by everyone. To help improve peoples understanding, and to support informed decision making, Geoscience Australia has developed a series of short (1-2 minute) 2D animations on the various field activity techniques.
The animations are part of the Exploring for the Future programs Geoscience Knowledge Sharing project.
A still from an animation on how airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys work
The current suite of animations provide easy to understand explanations of airborne and ground survey techniques, including:
- airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys (airplane and helicopter)
- magnetotelluric (MT) surveys
- passive seismic surveys
- reflection seismic surveys
- surface magnetic resonance (SMR) surveys
- borehole geophysics surveys
- groundwater sampling
- stratigraphic drilling.
The animations are designed for non-technical audiences. They explain the fieldwork techniques, what the equipment looks like, how it works and what it is measuring, what the data looks like, and how it is used.
You can view the series of fieldwork techniques animations on our YouTube channel.
The data from AEM surveys can be used to map the electrical conductivity of the rock layers
Animations available in community languages
In recognition of the diversity of our stakeholders some animations are available in a range of community languages commonly spoken in Exploring for the Future project areas, including the First Nations Australians' languages (see the links below to our YouTube playlists for translated animations):
A still from an animation on how reflection seismic surveys work