Drones and Cloud Technology for Stockpile Monitoring
The challenge: Stockpile Monitoring
Surveying sites with drones is becoming the method of choice for mines and quarries. This includes Groupe CB, a key industry leader in quarrying and owner of one of the biggest quarry sites worldwide.
Previously, they were using traditional stockpile measuring methods. Surveyors had to climb up stockpiles to generate data points on the base and top using a GPS. That was obviously time-consuming, inaccurate and expensive.
“We needed about five days to recover data on stockpiles. Today, once the drone has flown over a quarry, I’ll get the data the next morning. The result is a lot more accurate.”
— Vincent Amossé — Deputy CEO — Groupe CB — Aggregates Division
Groupe CB has taken on a new approach in collecting volumetric data for stockpiles. By using a drone, digital imagery is gathered to be processed into a highly accurate 3D model of the site.
Drone-based volume measurement allows for substantially, lower cost, faster and more accurate information in just a few clicks. A top down angle view enables one to see every single detail on the stockpile, allowing in turn, a way more accurate output. By clicking on ‘Measure and Volume’, and then, drawing a polygon around the stockpile, the volume is automatically and instantly calculated.
“I log into Redbird’s platform to get all the data I want. I get the information regarding stockpile volumes and grain sizes. We check these against production and sales to know exactly what has gone out. We know what is left in stock and can be valuated at the end of each month.”
Dylan Merkouloff — Site manager — Groupe CB
Groupe CB now monitors their productivity online. Their surveyors and quarry managers no longer have to visit their sites as often as they used to because they now have immediate visibility on production via the cloud platform.
To further accelerate their growth, they will buy their fleet of drones composed of 2 eBees and 1 DJI Phantom to perform the flight themselves and send the data to Redbird after. They will have their own pilots trained.They have also renewed their contract with Redbird.
“Drone data processing is a technology that quarries all over the world will come to adopt, because it is so simple and reliable. I am convinced that in the near future, quarry monitoring will be done exclusively with drones.”
Vincent Amossé — Deputy CEO — Groupe CB — Aggregates Division
Here‘s how using a cloud-based solution has changed their day-to-day operations:
Get a free trial for your mining and aggregates operations, whatever their size!
The features mentioned in this blogpost are all included in our platform. Learn more at www.getredbird.com.
