• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • ENG
    • CAT
    • ESP
Exodronics

Exodronics

We provide innovative tools in the field of Terrestrial Observation through UAVs or drones

  • COMPANY
  • EXO | C2-L
  • SOLUTIONS
  • BLOG
  • CONTACT

Open-pit mine monitoring using drones

25/03/2020 by Dr. Joan-Cristián Padró

Drones are a tool that can help the smart exploitation of geological resources, but they can also help public administrations to monitor compliance of regulations governing such practices. 

Context: Societal and market needs

Open-pit mine is still an unavoidable activity but it can become unsustainable without the restoration of degraded sites. Monitoring site restoration after extraction has finished is a legal requirement for mine companies and public administrations in many countries, involving financial provisions for environmental liabilities. Moreover, detailed drone imagery is very useful to generate topographic and volumetric information, aiding the quarry managers to take economically wise decisions.

We use small drones (< 2 kg) drones equipped with an optical sensor, along with field measurements that are deployed to geometrically and radiometrically correct the UAS sensor data. Imagery is processed with photogrammetric, Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems software, resulting in accurately georeferenced spectral information, vegetation and soil indices, structural/topographic information and land cover maps.

Objectives

Spectral data aids the detection and quantification of mine waste dumping, bare soil and other land cover extension. Moreover, plant formations and vegetation development can be evaluated not only, quantitatively, but also visually, allowing an intuitive comparison with the surrounding reference systems.

Materials

Fixed wing drones are especially useful when the area to cover is greater than 50 hectares, which can be done in less than 30 minutes.

On the other hand, multicopters are especially useful when the survey area has rock faces that (cause turbulence). Between multicopters and fixed wing drones there is a wide range of models, but the pros and cons are mainly these:

For land cover mapping purposes, a multispectral sensor is ideal. This allows the retrival of more information than a RGB sensor, which can be crucial to differentiate between soil types, minerals, rocks and vegetation species.

Methodology

From drone acquired individual images (photograms) and using photogrammetric techniques (Surface from Motion, SfM), it is possible to reconstruct a tridimensional model. With this data it is possible to generate topographic maps and orthoimages of a very high detail (< 10 cm pixel), which are very useful to characterize the quarries.

Results 

Volumetric measurement is relevant for the mounds of extracted stocks, as well as for the estimation of remaining fixed materials. Using drones, the volume can be calculated daily, although usually flight inspections are realised between once a month and twice a year.

Conclusion 

The use of a well-defined protocol constitutes a pipeline solution intended for the implementation by public administrations and private companies. With drones, the precise evaluation of topographic and restoration dynamics is possible in an expedient manner at a very affordable budget. Furthermore, the proposed solution prevents subjective interpretations by providing objective data new technologies are integrated and put at the service of scientists, environmental managers and decision makers. Fixed wing drones can sweep an area of 50 hectares (120 acres) in less than 30 minutes.

More info: Joan-Cristian Padró, Vicenç Carabassa, Jaume Balagué, Lluís Brotons, Josep M. Alcañiz, Xavier Pons (2019). Monitoring opencast mine restorations using Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) imagery. Science of The Total Environment, Volume 657, Pp. 1602-1614, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.156.

Category iconUncategorized Tag icondrones,  open-pit mine

Footer

Exodronics

Contact us

+34 931 353 788

info@exodronics.com

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
catalonia smart drones logo

Featured

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Contact

Legal

  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Legal warning

Join our Newsletter

    I have read and accept the privacy policy

    Copyright © 2022 Exodronics :: All rights reserved :: Return to top

    We use our own and third-party cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

    You can find out more about what cookies we are using or deactivate them in the SETTINGS .

    Privacy Overview
    Exodronics

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    3rd Party Cookies

    This website uses analytical and advertising cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, the most popular pages, number of forms submitted, etc.

    Leaving this cookie active allows us to improve our website.

    Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!

    Cookie Policy

    More information about our Cookie Policy