Mine workings
Open pits and cuttings
Benches, highwalls, berms, slopes, working levels, deformation zones and potentially hazardous areas.
Mine surveying
We deliver mine surveying services using UAV photogrammetry and laser scanning for mining and construction sites: volume and geometry control, as-built surveys, plan updates and operational support.
We also work in environments with limited or no GNSS availability, using UAVs, mobile laser scanning, SLAM and high-accuracy photogrammetry. Deliverables include measurable 3D models and reports in the formats you need.
Suitable applications
Open pits, facilities and supporting infrastructure—for mine surveying, reconciliation and operational control.
Stock management
Waste dumps and stockpiles
Dump stacks, stockpile pads and transfer areas—for reconciliation and volume calculations.
Tailings facilities
Tailings dams and embankments
Embankments and slopes—geometry control and condition capture as of the survey date.
Infrastructure
Haul roads and access routes
Haul roads, access routes and working areas—condition analysis and operational planning support.
Underground
Mines, tunnels and caves
Surveying and scanning underground workings where GNSS is unavailable or restricted.
Projects
Construction and operations
As-built surveys and progress control across construction and operational phases.
What we deliver
Surveying and processing for mine surveying use: volumes, geometry, change over time and safe monitoring.
Reconciliation
Volume calculations and material tracking
- Volumes for pits, dumps and stockpiles within defined boundaries;
- Stock reconciliation across the site or selected zones;
- Updates to the digital terrain/surface model and survey base data;
- Materials for planning and reporting.
Geometry
Benches, highwalls, berms and slopes
- Geometry control: profiles, cross-sections and spot levels;
- Checks against design parameters and tolerances;
- Identification of risk areas based on slope and wall geometry.
Underground
Mines, tunnels and caves
- Fast 3D capture without GNSS;
- Plans/profiles/sections derived from the point cloud;
- Volume calculations for excavations and voids;
- Change control from repeat surveys.
Topographic plans
Terrain and relief plans
- Relief plans: contours and spot heights;
- Topographic plan (features + terrain) on request;
- Delivery in PDF and DWG/DXF (and SHP/GeoPackage if needed) in the agreed coordinate and height reference;
- Updates when site conditions change.
Infrastructure
Roads, pads and embankments
- As-built surveys and construction control;
- Condition assessment of haul roads and working areas;
- Geometry control for embankments and slopes;
- Asset inventory for site infrastructure.
Monitoring
Change and safety
- Monitoring of extraction progress and earthworks movement;
- Detection of unauthorised excavation activity (where relevant);
- “Before/after” comparisons and change documentation;
- Surveying hard-to-reach areas without entering hazardous zones.
Survey methods
We choose the method based on your objectives, accuracy requirements and site conditions.
UAV surveys
Photogrammetry and UAV LiDAR
We use survey-grade industrial UAV platforms with TOPODRONE PPK modules, and can also work with RTK on compact platforms (for example, DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise) where appropriate.
When GNSS is unavailable
SLAM scanning
SLAM-based mobile laser scanning for pits and complex terrain. Works in unstable or GNSS-denied environments: jamming, limited sky visibility and sharp elevation changes.
We select the approach to match your objective: “volume calculations”, “highwall geometry control”, “before/after monitoring” or “as-built surveys”. The deliverables set and formats are agreed in the scope of work.
Quality assurance
All data capture is delivered with multi-stage QA: visual checks, coverage verification and cross-checks against control points where applicable.
What’s included
A turnkey service: from scoping through calculations to delivery in the required formats.
Scope
- Scope definition: site, objectives, frequency (if monitoring), required formats and accuracy.
- Work plan and UAV flight missions, aligned with site H&S requirements.
- If required: control/check point scheme and tie-in of the results.
- On-site data capture (imagery / UAV LiDAR / SLAM—per the agreed scope of work).
- Office processing: alignment, model/point cloud generation, orthomosaic.
- Volume calculations and “before/after” summaries (for monitoring projects).
- Delivery of reports and files in the agreed formats for CAD/GIS/specialist software.
Deliverables
Outputs suitable for calculations, design inputs and internal reporting.
Mapping
Orthomosaic and base data
Orthomosaic and a captured snapshot of the site condition as of the survey date.
3D models
DTM/DSM
Digital terrain/surface models and measurable 3D outputs for analysis and reporting.
Calculations
Volumes and reports
Volumes within defined boundaries, schedules and reporting to the scope of work, plus “before/after” comparisons where required.
Export formats
We agree export formats for your toolchain (CAD/GIS/specialist software) in advance and confirm the deliverables list in the scope of work before mobilisation.
Programme and cost
Programme: from a few days to a few weeks. Cost: quoted on request after a short brief.
Programme
From days to weeks
Depends on area, terrain complexity, selected method and the amount of office processing required.
Cost
Quoted on request (after the brief)
Price depends on the objective, method (imagery/LiDAR/SLAM), accuracy requirements and delivery formats. Payment is made upon completion of the works.
For a quote, we usually need: site location, approximate area/boundaries, objective, frequency (if monitoring), required formats and target dates.
Project examples
Open pit
Open pit survey for volume control
GNSS-denied survey
Sand pit survey with a SLAM scanner
Not sure about something?
If you have any questions and would like a consultation, email us at [email protected] — we’ll walk you through the brief, deliverable formats and timeframes.
