Elios 3 Enhances Safety and Precision in Salt Mine Stockpile Measurements

At a salt mine in Germany, mining engineers used the Elios 3 drone equipped with LiDAR technology to improve the accuracy and safety of stockpile volume measurements. This innovative approach has transformed the way data is collected, making the process faster and more reliable.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Introduction

Volume calculations are a routine part of operations in the mining and aggregates industries. With large quantities of materials stored over long periods, accurate and efficient measurement is crucial for planning and resource management.

These calculations help determine:

• How much material is present in stockpiles within a mine.
• How much material is stored in chambers or silos.
• How much material is needed for backfilling after extraction, ensuring that the actual amount removed matches initial estimates.

Traditionally, these measurements have been done manually, which is not only slow but also prone to errors. Surveyors often climb large stockpiles to take measurements, which can be dangerous and inefficient. In storage areas, handheld sensors and truck weighing are used, but these methods lack precision and lead to uncertainty about the exact amount of material present.

Customer Needs

At a salt mine in Germany, the survey team was responsible for mapping the entire mine and maintaining an accurate inventory of salt in storage chambers. Monthly surveys were conducted, requiring one day for data collection and another for calculations.

Surveyors would climb the salt cones to measure their height and then use CAD software to estimate volumes. This method was physically demanding and led to inaccuracies. It also posed safety risks due to the height involved.

Solution

The mine’s engineers learned about the Elios 3, a LiDAR-equipped indoor drone developed by Flyability. They decided to test it to see if it could streamline their stockpile measurements.

The Elios 3 uses FlyAware SLAM technology to create real-time 3D maps as it flies, making it ideal for confined spaces like mines. The goal was to improve speed, accuracy, and safety by eliminating the need for manual climbs.

Results

The test was a success. The Elios 3 produced high-quality 3D models of the salt stockpiles, proving its effectiveness in improving both data quality and operational efficiency.

Here’s what the surveyors found:

• Speed: Data collection was significantly faster, saving hours compared to manual methods.
• Accuracy: Volume calculations based on LiDAR data were far more precise than manual estimates.
• Safety: Surveyors no longer had to climb the salt cones, reducing the risk of injury.
• Ease of Use: Even those new to drones found the Elios 3 easy to operate, with a stable flight experience and intuitive interface.

“I had never flown a drone before, but the application is very user-friendly. I got up to speed quickly, and the drone feels stable and easy to handle,” said one engineer.

Conclusion

The survey team was highly satisfied with the results of the Elios 3 test. The potential for adopting the drone across all volume calculations is promising, offering significant improvements in safety, efficiency, and data quality.

By using the Elios 3, the mine can reduce manual labor, enhance safety, and even expand its use to map unstable areas without risking human exposure. Beyond stockpile measurements, the drone could revolutionize how the entire mine is surveyed and managed.

The head of the surveying department is already considering using the Elios 3 to create detailed 3D maps of the entire mine, moving away from outdated 2D plans. This shift could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mine’s layout and operations, paving the way for better decision-making and future expansion.

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