Drone-Based Geological Heritage Conservation and Exploration: Insights from Copper UNESCO Geopark

This study is dedicated to the application of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for geological heritage conservation and exploration, with a specific focus on the Copper UNESCO Global Geopark. The primary objective is the acquisition of geological heritage data, involving the documentation of geological formations, such as rhyolite, andesite, red sandstone, and glacial sediments. These comprehensive datasets provide a foundation for the creation of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) models, with a primary emphasis on geological heritage preservation and educational dissemination. UAVs play an instrumental role in collecting this extensive dataset, enabling a level of detail and coverage that surpasses conventional data collection methods. Moreover, the study successfully identifies and confirms the presence of historical mining traces along inaccessible coastal areas from the 18th and 19th centuries, achieved through advanced drone remote sensing techniques. This revelation not only enhances the convenience of geohazard analysis but also underscores the immense potential of UAVs in the specialized field of geological heritage preservation, exploration, and communication.