Drones are becoming an essential tool for mapping and surveying mining sites. They can capture high-resolution data, cover large areas, and reduce risks and costs. But how can you make the most of your drone for this purpose? Here are some tips to help you plan, execute, and analyze your drone mapping and surveying project.
Not all drones are suitable for mapping and surveying. You need a drone that can fly for a long time, carry a high-quality camera, and withstand harsh environments. You also need a drone that can support mapping software and sensors, such as GPS, RTK, or LiDAR. Depending on your budget and needs, you can choose between fixed-wing or multi-rotor drones, or hybrid models that combine both features.
Selecting the right drone is crucial for successful mapping and surveying. Look for a drone that can endure extended flight times, accommodate a top-notch camera, and withstand challenging conditions on a mining site. Ensure it supports mapping tools and essential sensors like GPS, RTK, or LiDAR.
The type of drone you select is dependent on the terrain: when the terrain is rather flat, fixed-wing drones can be used. However, when the height difference of the terrain is very abrupt and steep - e.g. in a deep open-pit mine- , choosing a multi-rotor drone is recommended.
Before you launch your drone, you need to plan your flight carefully. You need to define your area of interest, your desired resolution, your overlap and sidelap, and your flight altitude and speed. You also need to check the weather, the terrain, the airspace, and the regulations. You can use mapping software or apps to create a flight plan and upload it to your drone. This will help you optimize your flight time, battery life, and data quality.
Efficient mapping and surveying require thorough flight planning. Clearly outline your area of interest, desired resolution, overlap, sidelap, and flight altitude and speed. Consider factors like weather, terrain, airspace, and regulations. Utilize mapping software or apps to create a detailed flight plan that can be uploaded to your drone.
Assessing the height difference of the mine plays a critical role in planning your flight, especially in an active mine. In some cases, capturing and processing a lower resolution digital elevation model prior to the high definition flight is necessary. This flight can be executed using a fixed-wing drone. The obtained model can then uploaded in the flight mapping software. Depending on the size of the AOI, the zone will be divided into smaller flight zones, ensuring consistent GSD.
Once you have your flight plan ready, you can execute your flight. You need to follow some best practices to ensure a smooth and safe operation. You need to perform a pre-flight check, calibrate your drone and camera, and monitor your drone's status and position. You also need to avoid flying in low light, high wind, or interference. You can use a remote controller or a ground station to control your drone, or let it fly autonomously.
Executing your drone flight involves adhering to essential best practices to guarantee a smooth and secure operation. Conduct a pre-flight check, calibrate both your drone and camera, and consistently monitor your drone's status and position. Steer clear of unfavorable conditions such as low light, high wind, or potential interference.
Fixed RTK-enabled + NTRIP or base station GPS positioning only isn't sufficient when surveying (deep) active open-pit mines. Although receivers are now adapted to reduce scattered GPS signal, GPS signal coverage can sometimes be lost in the depth of the mine, shadowed by the mines' wall. One should consider placing sufficient GCPs around the area of interest, in order to obtain high absolute accuracy. The data can then be draped accurately over the area. This is especially necessary when interested in making and comparing measurements in the field and in the analysing software, for monitoring e.g. fault displacements over time.
After you finish your flight, you need to process your data. You need to transfer your images and metadata from your drone to your computer. You also need to organize and backup your data. You can use mapping software or cloud services to process your data and create orthomosaics, digital elevation models, contour maps, or 3D models. You can also apply filters, corrections, or annotations to enhance your data.
Once your drone flight is complete, the next step is processing the collected data. Transfer the images and metadata from your drone to your computer, ensuring you organize and back up the data for future use. Employ mapping software or cloud services to process the data, generating valuable outputs like orthomosaics, digital elevation models, contour maps, or 3D models.
The final step is to analyze your data and extract useful information. You need to use mapping software or GIS tools to visualize, measure, and compare your data. You can also use artificial intelligence or machine learning to automate tasks, such as object detection, classification, or segmentation. You can use your data to monitor changes, identify issues, plan actions, or report results.
Mapping and surveying with drones is a complex and dynamic process. You need to keep learning and improving your skills to get the most out of your drone. You can take online courses, join communities, read blogs, or watch videos to learn from experts and peers. You can also experiment with different drones, cameras, software, and techniques to find what works best for you.