(COLDWATER) - A giant hexagon-shaped sensor will soon be flying low over Branch County as part of a major groundwater study.
Starting next week, residents may notice a helicopter towing a 60-foot-wide sensor hoop about 100 feet above the ground.
The flights are part of a multi-county project led by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy and the U.S. Geological Survey.
The helicopter will fly in repeated grid patterns across Branch County and other parts of southern and western Michigan for the next three to four months.
The device works by measuring electrical conductivity in the ground--allowing scientists to map underground aquifers, sediment and rock layers.
Officials describe it as "an MRI for the earth," helping create a clearer picture of water sources used for drinking and agricultural irrigation.
The system is considered safe for people, animals and crops, with pilots instructed to stay at least 500 feet away from buildings and avoid livestock and large equipment.
Residents can track the helicopter's flight path online through the U.S. Geological Survey as the project continues through the summer.