The role of airborne EM methods for environmental applications in different geological terrains

This paper reviews the increasing role of Airborne EM (AEM) methods for environmental purposes in a variety of geological contexts. The ability of AEM data to differentiate geological, cultural and environmental influences is considered using fixed-wing survey examples from Finland and the UK. The provision of AEM subsurface resistivity information constitutes a unique capability in relation to general remote-sensing information to which it is allied. To be fully exploited, the results of AEM surveys require both ground calibration and integration (e.g. through GIS techniques) with existing geological, hydrogeological and environmental databases.