BEATRICE, Nebraska – Starting around mid- to late-June and lasting up to a week, a helicopter towing a large hoop from a cable will begin making low-level flights over portions of Jefferson and Gage Counties as part of a geological and aquifer mapping study.  The project could begin in early July depending on weather and other similar project timeframes.

The helicopter will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground at 100-200 feet above the surface. A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure tiny electromagnetic signals that can be used to map features below Earth’s surface.

The Aqua Geo Frameworks, LLC. (AGF) study will be conducted by the specialty airborne geophysical survey company SkyTEM ApS, under a AGF contract. The helicopter will be operated by experienced pilots from Livewire Aviation who are specially trained for the low-level flying required for geophysical surveys. The company works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. Surveys do not occur directly above populated areas. 

AGF-led studies have recently used this type of aerial survey to inform groundwater investigations around the country, including Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Wyoming, and California. By using cutting-edge airborne geophysical technology, AGF scientists efficiently obtain critical information about groundwater resources over large areas, without the need for intensive ground-based work. 

This work is part of a Lower Big Blue Natural Resources District (LBBNRD) project partly funded by the NE Water Sustainability Fund.  Information can be found at the LBBNRD Web Site (click “LBBNRD” in this note or type lbbnrd.net in your browser).