UXO search
Unexploded ordnance search on former firing ranges, post-conflict sites and investment areas.
DAMASEC PRODUCT
BULUCUDrone-based magnetic gradiometer system
UAV-based magnetic gradiometer system for UXO search, utility detection and archaeological surveys.
1,5 M m²Area surveyed in a single project
241Items of ordnance detected and cleared
100 mSurvey depth, depending on object size
cmPositioning precision with RTK/PPK
How it works
Four steps from planning to target list.
- 01
Mission planning
Site boundaries and survey lines are planned in the ground control software.
- 02
Terrain-following flight
Low-altitude autonomous flight at constant height using a radar altimeter.
- 03
Real-time data
OPM gradiometer data is geotagged to cm precision with RTK/PPK and streamed to the ground.
- 04
Anomaly map and targets
Filtered data becomes an anomaly map, target list and GIS layers.
Applications
One system, many missions.
Improvised explosives search
Pre-screening in C-IED and military search activities without exposing personnel.
Underground voids
Anomaly analysis for identifying tunnels, caves and voids.
Utility detection
Locating metal pipes and cables before excavation.
Archaeology
Metal object detection over large areas, including battlefield archaeology.
Depth up to 100 m
Surveying deep ferrous metal objects, depending on object size.
Technical features
System components
- Sensor
- Optically pumped (atomic) magnetometer (OPM) based gradiometer
- Positioning
- RTK/PPK GNSS — centimetre-level geotagging
- Flight mode
- True Terrain-Following, low altitude
- Altitude sensing
- Radar altimeter
- Mission computer
- Onboard computer for data logging and flight management
- Software
- Ground control, custom payload monitor and real-time filtering software
- Platform
- Suitable multirotor drone; hybrid-propulsion option for large areas
- Outputs
- Anomaly map, target list, GIS layers, excavation/clearance plan
Field outputs
From data to decision.
NATO SCI-321 · 16.11.2022
DAMASEC’s C-IED and military search experience and the BULUCU system were featured in TÜBİTAK SAGE’s “C-IED activities in Türkiye” presentation at the 6th meeting of the NATO SCI-321 group.
BULUCU
Photos and videos
Detailed product information
BULUCU is a UAV (drone) based magnetic gradiometer system developed by DAMASEC. It is designed for unexploded ordnance (UXO) search, utility detection and archaeological surveys. The system scans large areas quickly, without sending personnel onto hazardous ground, and locates buried ferrous metal objects with centimetre-level precision.
Applications
- UXO (unexploded ordnance) search
- Search for improvised (handmade) explosives
- Detection of underground voids
- Locating underground infrastructure (metal pipes and cables)
- Archaeology and battlefield archaeology
- Surveying ferrous metal objects lying underground at depths of up to 100 m, depending on object size
Key system components
- OPM sensors: gradiometer based on Optically Pumped (atomic) Magnetometer sensors
- Centimetre-level positioning: RTK/PPK GNSS receiver on the drone to geotag data with cm-level precision
- Mission computer: onboard computer that logs gradiometer data and manages low-altitude flight in True Terrain-Following mode
- Radar altimeter: real-time measurement of the distance to the ground surface
- Flight and data software: onboard software to manage the flight, log data and deliver real-time sensor data to the ground
- Ground control software: to plan and execute drone missions
- Custom payload monitor: add-on for the ground control software to control low-altitude terrain-following flight and receive metal detector data in real time
- Real-time processing: software with filtering capability to identify anomalies
- Drones with a hybrid propulsion system deliver higher productivity on large-scale surveys
Results in the field
In 2022, BULUCU surveyed a former firing range of 1.5 million square metres; the 241 items of ordnance detected were cleared and the land was made ready for commercial use. In the same year, the Malazgirt battlefield was surveyed with a drone-integrated magnetometer — a first for battlefield archaeology in Türkiye.
DAMASEC's experience in C-IED and military search activities and the BULUCU system were featured in TÜBİTAK SAGE's "C-IED activities in Türkiye" presentation at the 6th meeting of the NATO SCI-321 research task group on 16 November 2022.
Outputs
Survey results are turned into magnetic anomaly maps, target lists, GIS layers and excavation/clearance plans, so field teams are directed only to verified targets — reducing time, cost and risk together.
Demo and field trial
See BULUCU on your site.
Share the area size, location and your goal, and our experts will send you a suitable survey plan and demo options.
- Public institutions and defence organisations
- Energy, infrastructure and construction investors
- Archaeological excavation and research teams