Advances in Drone and Hyperspectral Technology for the Resources Sector

This full-day workshop and demo will offer an overview of advancements in drone (UAV) technology and its diverse geoscientific and mineral resource sector applications.

 

Participants will be introduced to a range of UAV platforms, including both short- and long-range systems, and with a focus on their operational capabilities and technical characteristics. Key topics will include UAV applications, software ecosystems, swarm technologies, and emerging frontiers in drone research.

We will discuss hyperspectral imaging, emphasizing data processing methodologies and practical applications in geoscience, mineral processing, and environmental mapping. The session will highlight the use of drone-mounted and tripod-mounted sensors and we will also provide a demonstration of hyperspectral data processing using the HyLite Python library.

Additional presentations will explore innovative UAV applications in underground environments and outer space exploration. The workshop will also address key technical challenges, operational considerations, and the potential for real-time UAV mapping—featuring insights from the European Union-funded M4Mining project, in which the University of Queensland is an active partner.

The workshop is being held at UQ's Experiemental Mine Site (map) To conclude the day, participants are invited to attend a live demonstration at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus Oval 2 (map) showcasing UAV hardware from the UQ Drones Collaborative Research Platform (CRP).

 

Workshop delivered by: Helmholtz Institute Freiberg (HiF) for Resource Technology (Germany) and the Sustainable Minerals Institute