Stockpile Volumes using Drone
Drones for Stockpile Management
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Drones can be used for stockpile management in various industries, including construction, mining, and agriculture. By using drones to monitor and manage stockpiles, companies can improve their efficiency and reduce costs.
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Drones equipped with cameras and sensors can capture high-resolution images and data of stockpiles, allowing for more detailed and accurate measurements of volume and density. This can help with inventory management, planning, and optimization.
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For example, in the construction industry, drones can be used to monitor the stockpiles of materials such as gravel, sand, and cement. By regularly capturing images and data of the stockpiles, companies can track their levels, identify any changes or discrepancies, and make adjustments as necessary.
How Can Drones Be Used For Stockpile Measurement and Analysis?
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The method for using a drone to calculate stockpiles begins with preparation, initially completed off site.
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A flight plan is drawn and loaded to the drones flight control software where the flight pattern is calculated.
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The remote pilot will input some variables about the area being flown such as height, speed and camera parameters.
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Aerial Hawk use RTK equipped drones to ensure consistency and accuracy in the data collected. This is confirmed by the placement of ground control point (or GCP's) around the site.
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The drone will automatically fly the planned flight path, capturing a series of overlapped images of the site including the stockpiles themselves.
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The remote pilot does not need to move around the site as long as they can see the drone throughout the flight. This means they can stand off at a safe location and observe the drone.
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Once image collection is complete, images are certified on site before being processed using specialist software.
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This software will incorporate the GCP's to ensure the data is accurate and in the correct coordinate system.
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A digital terrain model is generated from which a triangular irregular network (TIN) surface is created of the site and the target stockpiles.
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From this TIN, the volume can be calculated and the tonnage also estimated (if we know the grade / density of the material).
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Software is used to compile a stockpile volume report to be shared with the client.
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Cloud software can also be used to share the surface model with the project team and their surveyors / engineers. They can then work with the data as if they had collected it themselves.
Why Use Drones For Stockpile Volumes?
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There are 3 main benefits are immediately realised:
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Reduced amount of time on and off site
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Reduced risk to engineer/surveyors
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Reduction in Cost
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Reducing cost and risk while taking stockpile measurements is just one of a number of ways drones are saving construction companies money.
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Improved Supply Chain Logistics
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Detailed Company Forecasts
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Reduced Write Offs