Open-Cut Mine Stockpile Volume Calculation
Moranbah, Central Queensland · Client: Resources Sector Operator
Area Scanned
320,000 sqm
Time on Site
4 hours (flight + GCPs)
Sector
Aerial & UAV Mapping
Deliverables
4 formats
Overview
A coal operation in the Bowen Basin required monthly volumetric surveys of 22 stockpiles across a 4km site. Traditional survey methods took a four-person crew three days per month and introduced safety risks from working near active haul roads and conveyors. We deployed a DJI Matrice 350 RTK with a LiDAR payload to capture the entire site in a single morning flight. Ground control points were established on stable surfaces and re-used each month to ensure volume comparisons were referenced to a consistent datum. Processing produced a digital surface model (DSM) for each stockpile, with volumes calculated against the base surface defined by the client. Monthly reports were delivered within 48 hours of capture, including a colour-coded change map showing accumulation and depletion zones across the site.
01 Challenge
Haul trucks operated continuously, so the survey had to avoid active traffic zones. Dust suppression sprays created localised fog that degraded LiDAR returns. Stockpile surfaces ranged from fine coal dust to large overburden rocks.
02 Solution
Flight paths were planned with 200m exclusion buffers around active haul roads and adjusted in real time via radio contact with the site controller. LiDAR capture at 240kHz pulse rate ensured adequate point density even on dark coal surfaces. Flights were scheduled before 10am when dust suppression activity was lowest.
03 Outcome
Monthly survey time dropped from three days to four hours, freeing the client survey crew for other tasks. Volume accuracy was validated against truck-weigh records to within 1.8%, and the monthly change maps became a standard input to the mine planning team reconciliation process.
Equipment Used
- DJI Matrice 350 RTK
- DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR
- Emlid Reach RS3 GNSS
- Pix4Dmatic
Deliverables
- LAS Point Cloud
- DSM/DTM (GeoTIFF)
- Volume Report (PDF)
- Monthly Change Map
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