Aeroradiometric surveying is a geophysical method that measures natural or induced gamma radiation from rocks and soils using detectors mounted on aircraft, typically fixed-wing or helicopters, to map spatial variations in radioelement concentrations over large areas. High-sensitivity scintillation or semiconductor detectors record gamma-ray spectra in flight, which are corrected for altitude, aircraft background, cosmic and radon contributions, and then spectrally decomposed to estimate equivalent concentrations of potassium, uranium, and thorium. The method is widely used for geological mapping, mineral and uranium exploration, regolith and soil characterization, and environmental radiation assessments due to its high coverage efficiency and ability to detect subtle lithological and alteration contrasts.
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