Skip to main content

Aerial Ground Survey with DroneRover

DroneRover turns a DJI Phantom 4 Advanced into a professional aerial ground survey system. Where a handheld detector covers a few hundred square metres per hour, DroneRover maps thousands of square metres per battery charge — from the air.

What DroneRover Detects

DroneRover uses a 3D magnetic sensor to detect anomalies in the Earth's magnetic field:

Target typeExamples
Buried metallic objectsIron, steel, non-ferrous metals
Non-metallic buried objectsVoids, underground spaces, tunnels
Geological anomaliesIrregular mineral formations
Archaeological featuresBuried foundations, ditches, pits

Coverage Per Flight

Flight altitudeResolutionApproximate area per battery
10 mLow5,000–10,000 m²
10 mHigh1,000–3,000 m²
2 m (manual)Low1,000–2,000 m²

Lower altitude gives stronger sensor readings but covers less area per flight.

Who Uses DroneRover?

  • Treasure hunters and prospectors scanning large tracts of remote land
  • Archaeologists and heritage surveyors mapping sites before excavation
  • Farmers and landowners locating buried infrastructure or old wells
  • Researchers requiring non-invasive ground survey of large areas

How It Works

  1. Mount the DroneRover sensor unit on your DJI Phantom 4 Advanced
  2. Open the DroneRover app and draw your scan area on the map
  3. Launch — the drone flies the area autonomously
  4. Watch the 3D heat map build in real time on your iPhone
  5. Land and review — red/warm zones indicate the highest-probability targets

Requirements

  • DJI Phantom 4 Advanced drone (sold separately)
  • iPhone 6 or newer running iOS
  • Open outdoor area with stable GPS signal