Quarterly stockpile measurement using drone photogrammetry with ±1.5% accuracy validation.
Project Overview
JSW Steel required quarterly volumetric surveys of their iron ore stockpiles at their Karnataka mining operations. Traditional total station surveys took 3-4 days and required significant safety precautions in active mining areas.
Solution
Aeronica deployed a single Flycra 2.4 platform with RTK GPS. Each survey flight covered the entire stockpile yard in under 45 minutes. Data was processed using photogrammetry software to generate 3D point clouds and digital surface models.
Results
Volumetric accuracy was validated against weighbridge data, showing ±1.5% agreement. Survey time reduced from 3 days to 2 hours, and safety risks associated with personnel working near active mining operations were eliminated.