Is Remote Sensing Worth the Investment in Exploration Projects? A Deep Dive into Open-Sourced Satellite Data
In the world of mineral exploration, making informed decisions can mean the difference between success and costly failure. Traditionally, drilling has been the go-to method for uncovering potential mineral deposits, but with advancements in remote sensing technology, the game is changing. The real question now is: Is it worth investing in remote sensing and spend less on drilling?
The current development in remote sensing technologies makes it a valuable tool for mineral exploration campaigns. It can serve at your concession area as the bird eye with analytic capabilities.
The real question now is: How much time and money can we save during the exploration campaign when advanced remote sensing analytics is applied in the process?
Let's explore this by focusing on the reliability and potential of remote sensing techniques using open-sourced satellite data, particularly when combined with advanced processing techniques and commercial datasets.
Figure 1: Satellite data being processed for mineral exploration (EMIT RGB Composite).
The Role of Open-Sourced Satellite Data
Open-sourced satellite data, such as that from SENTINEL, EMIT, PRISMA, and EnMap, offers an invaluable resource for mineral exploration, primarily due to its accessibility. SENTINEL, with its spatial resolution of 10m x 10m, provides detailed imagery over large areas, making it a practical choice for initial exploration phases. However, its spectral resolution and number of bands are relatively low, which limits its ability to distinguish between different geological features.
On the other hand, datasets like those from EMIT, PRISMA, and EnMap boast superb spectral resolution, capable of identifying specific mineral signatures across various wavelengths. Yet, these datasets come with a trade-off: a larger pixel size (30m x 30m to 60m x 60m), which makes them more suitable for large-scale prospecting rather than detailed local exploration.
Why Processing Matters
While open-sourced datasets are valuable, the true power lies in how these datasets are processed. TerraEye's advanced processing techniques transform raw satellite data into actionable insights. By combining mineral classification algorithms (e.g. Spectral Angle Mapper – SAM, Spectral Feature Fitting - SFF), spectral unmixing (e.g. Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering - MTMF), spectral indices and automated lineament detection. TerraEye can extract far more information from these datasets than traditional methods allow.
This approach allows exploration companies to pinpoint areas of interest more precisely, even in regions where high-resolution data is not available . The ability to perform AI unsupervised clustering and DEMs (Digital Elevation Models) within hours for smaller AOIs (up to 500 km²) or within days for larger, more complex areas, means that exploration teams can make faster, more informed decisions. It gives them the new, unbiassed insight about the surficial geology of the region.
Figure 2: Advanced processing techniques like unsupervised machine learning enhance the value of satellite data.
The Power of TerraEye’s SaaS Platform
TerraEye is at the forefront of revolutionizing mineral exploration with its AI-powered Software as a Service (SaaS) platform. This platform allows users to easily select their Area of Interest (AOI) and receive highly processed data within hours to days, depending on the complexity and size of the area. Whether you're analyzing a small 500 km² AOI or a larger region, TerraEye’s platform efficiently processes the data using advanced techniques such as:
• SAM (Spectral Angle Mapper)
• MTMF (Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering)
• Geological and Environmental Spectral Indices
• Custom Composites
• Automated Lineament Detection
• AI-Generated Clusterization Maps
• Digital Elevation Models (DEM)
• Automated water, vegetation and anthropogenic cover masking
• BEC (Bare Earth Composite)
With much more to be added.
These tools provide geologists and exploration teams with detailed insights that were once only achievable through extensive and costly fieldwork.
Figure 3: TerraEye’s SaaS platform processes satellite data with advanced algorithms for quick and detailed analysis.
Combining Open-Sourced and Commercial Data: A Strategic Approach
One of the key strengths of TerraEye's platform is its ability to integrate open-sourced datasets with higher-resolution commercial data. While open-sourced data provides a broad overview, commercial datasets offer the fine detail needed for local exploration. For example, high-resolution commercial satellites can provide pixel sizes as small as 30cm x 30cm, capturing small geological features that are crucial in the final stages of initial exploration.
Combining these datasets allows for a multi-resolution analysis, where large-scale patterns identified by open-source data are refined and verified by commercial data. This integrated approach is increasingly used in the junior mining market, where the balance between cost and accuracy is critical.
The Future: Integrating Geophysical Data and Synthetic Datasets
As the industry evolves, so too does TerraEye's platform. The next frontier in exploration involves combining remote sensing data with geophysical datasets from aerial campaigns. This integration will provide a 3D view of geophysical properties of subsurface structures, offering unprecedented insights into mineral deposits.
Moreover, synthetic datasets—artificially generated data that mimics real-world conditions—are emerging as a powerful tool in exploration. These datasets can simulate various geological scenarios, helping to identify potential mineralization zones that might be overlooked by conventional methods. While synthetic datasets are not yet mainstream, their potential to unlock new discoveries with less equipment and investment is significant.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
While remote sensing offers numerous advantages, it is not without its downsides. The resolution trade-offs in open-sourced data, the need for sophisticated processing, and the integration challenges with commercial and synthetic datasets all pose obstacles. However, the ability to reduce fieldwork, lower costs, and increase the speed of exploration makes this approach more than viable—it’s becoming essential.
For junior mining companies, where budgets are tight and risks are high, remote sensing provides a way to de-risk exploration. By identifying the most promising targets before drilling, companies can allocate resources more efficiently, potentially reducing the number of necessary drill holes and associated costs.
A Tool, Not a Silver Bullet
While drilling will always have its place in mineral exploration, remote sensing offers a compelling alternative —especially when enhanced by advanced processing and integration with commercial and synthetic datasets. The key to success lies in using the right tools for the right job, and in today’s exploration landscape, that means leveraging the full spectrum of available data.
Investing in TerraEye’s platform allows exploration teams to combine the breadth of open-sourced data with the precision of commercial datasets and the innovation of synthetic data . This holistic approach not only maximizes the chances of discovery but also does so in a cost-effective, environmentally responsible way.
As the technology continues to evolve, so too will the possibilities for remote sensing, making it an indispensable part of any modern exploration strategy. So, is it worth spending on remote sensing instead of the next drill? For many, the answer is a resounding yes.
Figure 4: The future of exploration—integrating remote sensing, geophysics, and synthetic data, TerreEye’s simple ordering interface.
