Drone Stockpile and Volumetric Surveys

A stockpile survey specifically targets the measurement of material piles—like aggregates, ore, or waste—typically found at mining, construction, or recycling sites. The primary goal is to calculate the volume of the stockpiled material to help with inventory management, project planning, and cost estimation.

A volumetric survey is a broader term that refers to the process of measuring the volume of any three-dimensional object or terrain feature. It’s not limited to stockpiles; volumetric surveys are also used for tasks like determining earthwork quantities in excavations, cut-and-fill operations, and even building volumes.

Stockpile surveys and volumetric surveys are very closely related but do have some slight differences.

Stockpile Surveys are focused on the measurements of material piles such as ore, waste, or refuse. This helps with inventory management, project planning, and cost estimation.

Volumetric Surveys are a broader, more encompassing term that refers to the process of measuring the volume of any three-dimensional object or terrain feature. Volumetric surveys can also be used for determining quantities in excavations, and cut-and-fill operations.

To Summarise:

• Stockpile surveys are a subset of volumetric surveys focused solely on measuring piles of material.
• Volumetric surveys cover a wider range of applications beyond just stockpiles.
• Both use similar technologies (e.g., drones, photogrammetry, ground control points) to create 3D models from which volume is calculated.
• In stockpile surveys, the process is often tailored to account for irregular stockpile shapes and the need for quick, repeatable measurements in dynamic environments.

Drones offer a whole host of different benefits when it comes to volumetric surveys compared to traditional volumetric surveys, including:

• Improved accuracy and reduced human error, as drones give precise measurements instead of estimations.
• Drones can complete surveys much faster than traditional surveys, which allows for faster decision-making.
• Faster surveys mean less labour and operational costs, leading to significant savings over time.
• Increased workplace safety by reducing the need for on-ground staff, with drones safely taking measurements from the sky.
• Drone volumetric surveys can be repeated with the same pre-programmed flight paths to give you repeated stockpile measurements. This can show how much stockpile is being used over time.
• Help you stay compliant with regulations such as the EU Emissions Trading System, where businesses are required to do a mass balance to calculate CO2 emissions.