Joined about 2 months ago
Stockpile specialist, mining sector
on Anyone using drones in a quarry or open pit mine?
Dust is a real problem. We fly early morning before operations start, or right after they water the haul roads. A polarizing filter on the camera helps cut haze but doesn't eliminate it. Also: never fly during or immediately after blasting. The vibrations can damage your IMU and the dust cloud will wreck your images.
on When do you actually need 3D orthomosaics vs standard 2D?
You're spot on. I've had clients request 3D orthos for open pit mines. Completely pointless - there are no vertical structures to correct for. The DSM-based 2D ortho is identical. The only time I push for true ortho is urban mapping with buildings over 3-4 stories. Below that the lean is minimal enough that nobody notices.
on Quarry survey - 6 million cubic yards in one flight
1.5% on piles that large is excellent. The base plane definition must have been challenging with 47 piles. Did you define each base plane individually or use a global reference surface? Also, how did you handle the active areas? Trucks moving, loaders working, etc.
on How do you present drone data to non-technical clients?
DroneDeploy's sharing links are perfect for this. Zero software required, they click a link and get an interactive map in their browser. Can measure, annotate, toggle layers. For 3D, Sketchfab works great. Upload your mesh and send a link. Works on phones too.
on Flight altitude vs GSD tradeoffs - when to fly higher?
For stockpiles I fly at 400ft. The volume accuracy at 3cm GSD vs 1cm GSD is negligible - we're talking fractions of a percent. Not worth doubling my flight time.
on Stockpile volume accuracy - how close is close enough?
2% on a 50k CY pile is actually very good. That's 1000 CY difference which sounds like a lot but consider the inherent error in GPS surveys too - they're not measuring every point on the surface. To improve: fly lower (150ft), use 80/75 overlap, place GCPs on and around the pile, and define your base plane carefully. The base plane definition is usually where most of the volume error comes from, not the surface.
on Pix4D vs DroneDeploy vs Metashape - 2026 comparison
Pix4D for accuracy-critical work, DroneDeploy for quick turnaround client-facing stuff. They serve different purposes. Pix4D gives you more control over processing parameters and better GCP workflows. DroneDeploy is faster and the sharing/annotation features are great for construction clients who just want to look at their site. Metashape is powerful but the UX is rough. Great for academic work.
on What overlap settings are you using for construction sites?
For stockpiles specifically I go 80/80. The steep sides need more overlap to get good coverage. Anything less and I get holes in the point cloud on the pile faces. Flat construction sites 70/70 is fine.
on Stockpile monitoring dashboard we built in-house
@CadCraig Yes, API for triggering processing and pulling results. The documentation isn't great but their support team was helpful. DM me if you want to compare notes.
on Stockpile monitoring dashboard we built in-house
@MiningMark About 4 hours from landing to dashboard, mostly processing time. Base surface updates monthly - we fly a clean stockpile area and that becomes the new reference.
on Virtual Surveyor for earthworks - worth the subscription?
I switched from Civil3D to Virtual Surveyor about a year ago. Cuts my processing time in half for routine earthworks. The automatic breakline generation is the killer feature. The $300/month pays for itself if you're doing more than 2-3 earthworks projects a month.
on Stockpile accuracy - how close are you getting to scale tickets?
2-3% vs scale tickets is pretty standard and honestly as good as you'll get. The variables are: 1. Scale tickets measure weight, we measure volume. Conversion depends on assumed density which varies by material, moisture, compaction. 2. Timing - are you flying right when trucks are weighed or is there a lag? 3. Base plane definition - small changes in where you draw the toe can swing volumes a few percent For internal inventory tracking, 2-3% is excellent. For payment disputes, I wouldn't rely on either method alone.
on OpenDroneMap vs paid alternatives - honest comparison?
For stockpiles it's totally fine. I switched to WebODM for routine volume work and kept Pix4D for the complex stuff. Saves about $3k/year in subscription fees.
on DroneDeploy vs Pix4D vs Propeller - which one for a surveyor?
I switched from Pix4D to Propeller 2 years ago for stockpile work and haven't looked back. The AeroPoints make GCP workflow dead simple and the volume tools are built for what we do. Cut/fill, design comparison, it's all there. That said, Propeller is really focused on earthworks. If you're doing a lot of topo for design or boundary work, it might feel limited.