UAV LiDAR to drive mine productivity
Accurate topographic mapping using UAV LiDAR can be used in all phases of a mine’s life from pre-mining permitting, planning a mine site, efficiently and safely operating a mine to, post-mining, creating a reclamation/rehabilitation plan to return the land as close to its original state as possible.
| Application | Specific benefits of UAV LiDAR in the Mining sector |
|---|---|
| Archaeological reconnaissance of pre-mine | Bare earth modelling or Digital Terrain Models (DTM) using LiDAR data is an analytical tool which enables an in-depth assessment of terrain. By penetrating the vegetation layers, LiDAR offers the unique ability to remove all non-ground points and reveal what's on the ground surface. The technique:
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| Mine safety | Mines are dangerous places to work. Automation and remote operation to reduce the exposure of personnel in mines is an essential business driver. Using UAV LiDAR to 3D map open-pit mine sites removes the need for personnel to be close to the many cliffs and steep embankments which are a major source of danger due to threat of collapse. The maps can be used to understand, and identify dangerous and safe areas at a mine site, to design a risk-area map. |