15 Trucks Waiting and a Surveyor a Week Away
How we deliver fast, accurate stockpile volumetrics at In Flight Robotics
We got a last-minute call from a pit we survey regularly. They had 15 trucks waiting to load and needed a stockpile measurement before any material left the site. Their surveyor was a week away.
We responded immediately, completed the survey, and got the trucks moving.
We’d been flying this pit regularly, so a lot of the work that made the quick turnaround possible had already been done. We’d established a network of ground control points and flown the site enough times to have consistent flight paths. When the call came, we had a survey plan we could work from right away.
What we set up on a repeat site
Ground control points are marked locations with known coordinates. We use them to tie our drone data to a common reference across visits. We also fly consistent paths to get comparable coverage, adjusting the plan as the pit and stockpiles change.
To calculate the volume, we model the surface of the pile from the drone imagery and measure it against the ground surface beneath it. How we define the edge of the pile and the surface it sits on affects the result. When we measure the same pile over time, keeping those decisions consistent where site conditions allow makes the numbers easier to compare.
Why the timing mattered
Once the loader starts pulling material, the stockpile changes. A survey after loading can tell you what’s left. If you need a record of what was there before hauling started, there’s a window to get it.
On this job, having ground control and a familiar flight plan in place meant we could spend that window measuring the stockpile. That’s one of the practical benefits of regular scans. Along with a record of how inventory changes over time, we have the site setup in place when a measurement is needed on short notice.
If you need a pre-haul measurement or regular stockpile volumes, get in touch with us at In Flight Robotics. We can plan the survey around when you need the numbers.
Serving Industries Across British Columbia and Western Alberta
Remote or difficult-to-access terrain
Safety-sensitive environments
A need for accurate, reliable data
Quick response within Southeastern BC and Southwestern Alberta
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🚁 Based in Golden, BC Serving British Columbia & Western Alberta
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