How a quarry utilizes drone technology
Drone Deploy – an online news site that reports on the commercial drone industry – recently included a report on Nelson Aggregate’s Uhthoff Quarry in Ontario, Canada, which noted using drones to conduct surveys of the quarry was “20 times faster” than traditional surveying methods.
Tecia White, a geologist and hydrogeologist contracted to work for the 566ha Canadian quarry, told the news site that as well as using drones to conduct much faster – and safer – surveys of the site, she also used the technology to map stockpiles, perform inventory and estimate how much overburden needed to be removed prior to the extraction of aggregates.
She also used drone technology to conduct aerial checks of heavy machinery for issues not visible to operators from the ground.
White was quoted as saying drone-based stockpile analysis is “miles ahead of standard surveying”.
She also explained that one of the greatest benefits of using drones on sites was their ability to improve worker safety, as it removed the requirement to have people on the ground in areas detrimental to safety.
