Service 02
Volumetric and stockpile measurement
A volume figure is only as good as the surface it was measured against. Every Drone360 volume report names the reference surface, the positioning method and the date, so the number can be checked rather than taken on faith.
What you get
- Volume per pile in cubic metres, each pile numbered to your site convention
- The reference surface stated, whether a base plane, a prior capture or a design surface
- Cut and fill figures against a design or previous surface where required
- 3D model and orthomosaic of the yard for your records
- A comparison against the previous capture when the work runs on a cycle
Why operators move to aerial capture
- Nobody walks a loose pile with a prism pole
- A yard that took a full day of ground work is captured in well under an hour
- Millions of surface points rather than fifty spot heights per pile
- Operations continue during the flight, so there is no shutdown cost
Capture reference
- Aircraft
- DJI Mavic 3E, RTK
- Positioning
- NTRIP absolute or verified
- Reference RMSE
- 0.01 m achieved
- Outputs
- Volume report, model, ortho
- Cycle
- Monthly, quarterly or annual
- Delivery
- 2 to 4 business days
On a central Alberta aggregate pit, 1,000 aligned frames captured with live network corrections produced a 2.51 cm/px ground sample distance at 0.01 m RMSE, with raw RTK tagged imagery delivered alongside the processed outputs.
Used for
6 applicationsAggregate and gravel stockpiles
Per pile volumes numbered to your site convention, captured without anyone walking loose material.
Salt and sand sheds
Municipal winter material inventory ahead of and after the season.
Landfill airspace and cell capacity
Remaining airspace and placed volume for regulatory and operational reporting.
Earthworks cut and fill
Progress volumes against a design surface or a previous capture.
Mine and pit inventory
Reserve and inventory figures on a quarterly or annual reporting cycle.
Grain, biomass and bulk material
Volumes on any exposed material where a shape can be captured from above.
Recognise your project in that list? Send the site and the deliverable and a scoped quote comes back, usually within one business day, with the positioning method and delivery window stated and your licence to use the imagery included.
Get a quote for volumetric measurementCommon questions
Answered plainlyHow accurate is drone stockpile measurement?
Volume accuracy depends on the capture method and on the reference surface the volume is calculated against, which is why both belong in the report. A capture flown with live network corrections has returned 0.01 m RMSE against independent checkpoints on an Alberta pit. Ground methods using fifty or so spot heights per pile carry considerably more uncertainty on an irregular surface, and nobody has to climb the pile.
How long does it take to measure a yard?
A yard that takes a full day of ground work is typically captured in well under an hour of flight time, with the report back in two to four business days. Operations do not need to stop while the aircraft is up.
What is a reference surface and why does it matter?
It is the surface the volume is measured down to: a flat base plane, a previous capture, or a design surface. The same pile produces different numbers against different references, so a volume figure quoted without naming its reference is not a complete answer.
Can you compare this quarter against last quarter?
Yes, and that is where repeat capture earns its cost. Holding the capture method and reference surface constant between periods is what makes the change figure meaningful rather than approximate.
Other services
Drone360 ImageryMapping and terrain models
Orthomosaics, terrain and surface models, contours and point clouds captured with RTK positioning to a stated accuracy.
03Area and quantity measurement
Measured areas and quantities reconciled in a workbook and shown over a scaled image anyone can verify.
04Thermal imaging
Radiometric thermal capture for hot spots, moisture, electrical and mechanical faults, and heat signature search support.
05Asset and structure inspection
Close visual inspection of structures and assets that are difficult, expensive or hazardous to reach on foot.
06Multispectral mapping
Index maps that show plant stress before it is visible to the eye, flown on your schedule rather than a satellite's.
07Progress documentation
Repeat capture from logged positions, so this month lines up with last month and the sequence reads as progress.
08Aerial media and events
Cinematic aerial film, facility and property imagery, and live event coverage with standoff planned in advance.
09Lidar capture
High density lidar for ground surface beneath vegetation, captured with RGB in the same mobilisation.