Drone Survey Stockpile Volumumetrics

This site took us all of 5 mins to capture. The upload & the processing of the photos was very straight forward in Propeller. We then had a surveyor to perform the ‘traditional’ survey method. Obviously, the drone survey has some huge benefits: 1) Safety. We did not have to climb up and over the stockpile 2) Speed. We were on site for no longer than 15mins total plus the 1hr at most processing time 3) Cost. Due to speed, we saved considerable time. Drone Survey volume calc 2838m² Traditional Survey volume calc 2230m² Difference 8% Arguably, the drone is more accurate as it creates a full tin surface from the photogrammetry whereas a surveyor will pick up top of bank, bottom of bank and other points on a subjective basis. Effective stockpile management programs utilize accurate and detailed knowledge profiling each stockpile. A thorough stockpile management program allows operators to accurately and efficiently account for stockpiles and archive ore grades throughout the life of a stockpile. Traditionally, ground-based techniques and technologies are used in stockpile management programs to achieve operational efficiency, but can be time-consuming, labor-intensive and costly. Drones for stockpile management have emerged as an incredibly efficient industrial-grade tool, assisting in a wide range of stockpile management applications including blending, managing inventory and financial reporting. The simplicity, speed and agility offered by drones for stockpile management, sets them apart from conventional aircrafts and traditional data collection methods. Airobotics’ industrial-grade, automated drone system provides surveyors and mining professionals access to high-quality digital 3D models, using photogrammetry or LiDAR. For mine operators, this data plugs directly into any mining or GIS software suite for further analysis and evaluation. Airobotix drones can be incorporated into stockpile management programs including blending efforts by assisting in the calculation of blended piles by tracking quantity of ore grades mixed. Additionally, UAV stockpile management programs can provide value in archiving layered stockpiles by profiling historical stockpile grades and archiving ore grades across the life of the stockpile to minimize classifications.