General News
11 May, 2026
Planes take flight path to mapping region’s new generation data
LIGHT aircraft equipped with electromagnetic instruments will take to Loddon skies next month gathering new airborne geophysical data.
LIGHT aircraft equipped with electromagnetic instruments will take to Loddon skies next month gathering new airborne geophysical data.
Geoscience Australia in partnership with the Geological Survey of Victoria will be mapping central and northern Victoria for new data to help government, industry and geoscientists to better understand Victoria’s subsurface geology and resource potential.
Geoscience Australia told the Loddon Herald that making the data publicly available was a key part of reducing exploration risk and supporting informed decision making.
“This survey will provide new, modern airborne electromagnetic coverage in parts of central and northern Victoria where existing data are limited or based on older legacy surveys some dating back to 2001,” the federal agency said.
“The project has been designed to fill key gaps where no data has yet been acquired, and allow direct comparison with previous surveys, improving consistency and resolution across the region.”
The survey uses light fixed‑wing aircraft equipped with electromagnetic instruments to measure natural variations in the electrical conductivity of the ground to depths of several hundred metres.
The aircraft transmit short, low energy electrical signals into the ground and measure the returning response, which varies depending on geology, groundwater and other earth materials present beneath each flight line.
These measurements are processed into conductivity models that provide valuable information about subsurface structures and materials.
For industry, this reduces exploration risk by improving understanding of regional geology beneath surface cover, helping companies better target follow‑up work and integrate the results with their own local geological and geophysical datasets.
“The survey provides a multi‑purpose picture of what lies underground, supporting water security, improving understanding of resources, and helping governments and communities make more confident, lower‑risk land‑use decisions,” Geoscience Australia said.
Read More: Loddon Shire