Quarry Volume Measurement

Industrial Site Mapping: Volume Measurement and Digital Inventory of a Quarry

For this large-scale project, Droneview.be transformed an active 120-hectare mining site into a highly accurate digital terrain model. Where traditional surveying on this scale takes weeks, our drone data delivers a complete overview for efficient stockpile management and site monitoring within days.

The Challenge: Efficiency and Safety in Complex Environments

In a dynamic work environment like a quarry, safety is a priority. The client sought a method to collect accurate data without halting operational activities. Key requirements included:

  • A high-resolution baseline measurement of the entire topography.
  • Calculation of stockpile volumes with minimal margin of error.
  • Accessible data for project managers without the need for heavy CAD software.

Technical Workflow: Photogrammetry at Scale

Data acquisition was carried out via pre-programmed flight paths, ensuring consistent overlap and GSD (Ground Sample Distance).

  • Data Scope: Processing 1,750 RAW images for maximum clarity.
  • Processing: Advanced reconstruction via the WebODM engine for a reliable point cloud model.
  • Deliverables: Georeferenced orthophotos, Digital Surface Models (DSM), and Terrain Models (DTM).
Quarry mapping orthophoto
Detailed orthophoto for precise terrain analysis.
Drone flight path positions
Visual representation of flight route and camera positions.

Interactive Analysis & Visualization

By converting the massive dataset into an interactive 3D environment, the client can calculate distances, areas, and volumes in the browser at any time.

👉 Launch the interactive 3D viewer of the quarry

Need help? Check out our WebODM Viewer Manual.

Project Details (Terrain Analysis)

Feature Specification
Surface Area 120 Hectares
Capture Count 1,750 High-Res photos
Technology 3D Photogrammetry (WebODM)
Output Orthophoto, DTM, DSM & 3D Mesh