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
Related lidar work
Related case study
Capture reference
- Sensor
- RGB, RTK tagged
- Positioning
- NTRIP absolute or verified
- Reference RMSE
- 0.01 m achieved
- Outputs
- Volume report, model, ortho
- Cycle
- Monthly, quarterly or annual
- Client access
- Live DroneDeploy map link
- 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.
How it works
See how we do the restHow we measure a stockpile
Read the steps
- CaptureThe drone flies a grid over the pile, taking overlapping photos from every angle (or lidar where it fits better).
- 3D surfaceProcessing turns the overlap into a dense 3D surface of the pile, accurate to centimetres when it's tied to ground control.
- Base surfaceA base surface is set along the pile's toe, where it meets the ground. Everything above it counts toward the volume.
- VolumeThe software fills the space between the base and the surface and reports the volume in cubic metres. The figures shown are an example.
- Change since last visitFly again next month and compare surfaces. Red is material removed and green is material added, so inventory and haul figures are measured.
- DeliverablesA volume report, a cut and fill map, and a surface you can compare against at every visit.
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
See all eleven
Mapping and terrain models
Orthomosaics, terrain and surface models, contours and point clouds captured with RTK positioning to a stated accuracy.
Area and quantity measurement
Measured areas and quantities reconciled in a workbook and shown over a scaled image anyone can verify.
Thermal imaging
Radiometric thermal capture for hot spots, moisture, electrical and mechanical faults, and heat signature search support.
Asset and structure inspection
Close visual inspection of structures and assets that are difficult, expensive or hazardous to reach on foot.