An airborne platform for surveying natural radionuclides in geological and environmental applications

Abstract This paper provides an introductory overview of airborne gamma-ray spectroscopy for investigating natural radionuclides, uranium-238, thorium-232, and potassium-40, released through geological weathering and erosion processes. It outlines key technologies, system architecture, and measurement considerations relevant to airborne radiometric surveys. To illustrate these concepts, the design and field deployment of a prototype detection platform are presented. The system integrates a scintillation detector with a GPS-enabled UAV for wide-area mapping. Field trials using artificial radioactive sources demonstrated the platform’s ability to detect and localise radiological anomalies, validating the practical application of the discussed methods in geological and environmental contexts.