This upscaling project will be at the boundary between a small-scale to a medium scale project. The final product will be two drone systems equipped with photogrammetry magnetic, and hyperspectral (HS) sensors – the two latter to be used optionally ready to the market.

First, a rental service for industrial partners and exploration companies that do not wish to invest in the technology but require the benefits of this technology, secondly a UAV platform that can be purchased by customers will be implemented. The use of UAV based sensors is firstly intended for exploration but can directly be implemented for mining activity monitoring and post-mining rehabilitation. It has therefore a clear impact on “Increasing resource and energy efficiency” all along the value chain. By providing rapidly key information to the field geoscientists the intended UAV based products allow better exploration targeting and focussing on key areas and thus increase their efficiency, reduce costs and energy (for example by decreasing the amount of drilling and by reducing the number of more expensive airborne and helicopter surveys). The project provides a non-invasive exploration alternative and thus allows to Reduce environmental impact but as a monitoring tool for (post-) mining activities, it also allows a better control on the environmental footprint. Public acceptance for exploration and mining activities is largely dominated by environmental issues. By providing a method that reduces the footprint of mining activities while enabling a more efficient survey this project opens the door to renewed exploration in Europe and thus contribute to the “security of supply of materials” in Europe. Finally, by developing a new technology with industrial partners it will strengthen the competitiveness of industries across Europe and increase employment and growth.