The mining industry is looking for innovative approaches to enhance safety and boost productivity at the same time and drones might be the right answer to that. It is a powerful tool with significant positive impact that is changing mining operations. UAV technology is an add-on for the decision making process by providing fast, accurate and meaningful data sets.
- Photogrammetry
- Aerial Photography
- GIS and Remote Sensing
- Total Station Survey
Volumetric analysis
- Excavated area and volume measurements
- Extracted stockpiles volumetric calculations
Close-up inspection
- Equipment dilapidation inspection (e.g. conveyors, rockers, etc.)
- Mine highwalls potential failure inspection
Mapping
- Digital terrain modeling (DTM) for height and elevation data of open pit mines
- Digital Elevation modeling for height and depth of entire site
High resolution imagery
- High quality 2d scaled maps
- 3d conceptual model of mine sites
Safety
- Increase personnel safety- less surveyors exposed to site hazards
- No equipment set-up in open pit- less risk of equipment ground crashing
Reporting
- Replacement of conventional methods- less expensive cranes and access equipment
- Opportunity for cost reduction- less operational shutdown
Resources
- Optimization of crew deployment- shorter notification time for ground crew
- Efficient mission planning- optimization of fleet and equipment utilization