Posted: November 6th, 2023

Utilizing Drones and Sensors for Automated Stockpile Management and Inventory Control at Bulk Terminals

Utilizing Drones and Sensors for Automated Stockpile Management and Inventory Control at Bulk Terminals

Stockpile management is a crucial operation for many industries, such as construction, mining, agriculture, and logistics. However, traditional methods of measuring stockpiles are often time-consuming, costly, and potentially dangerous. Manual data collection involves ground-based surveys that require access to the stockpile area, which can pose safety risks and disrupt operations. Moreover, manual surveys are prone to human errors and inconsistencies, resulting in inaccurate and unreliable data.

Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), offer a new solution for stockpile management that is safer, faster, and more accurate than traditional methods. Drones can be equipped with sensors, such as LiDAR or photogrammetry cameras, to capture images and other data as they fly over the stockpile. This data can be used to create a 3D stockpile model, which can be used to calculate its volume, density, mass, and value. Drones can also automate the data collection process by following pre-planned flight paths and uploading the data to cloud-based platforms for processing and analysis.

This blog post will explore the benefits of using drones and sensors for automated stockpile management and inventory control at bulk terminals. It will also provide a step-by-step guide on how to conduct drone stockpile surveys using DJI Enterprise drones and DJI Terra software.

Benefits of Using Drones and Sensors for Stockpile Management

Using drones and sensors for stockpile management has several advantages over traditional methods, such as:

– **Safety**: Drones eliminate the need for human access to the stockpile area, reducing the exposure to hazards such as dust, noise, falling materials, or heavy machinery. Drones can also fly over inaccessible or unstable areas that are difficult or dangerous to reach by ground-based surveys.
– **Speed**: Drones can cover large areas in a short time, capturing high-resolution images and data of stockpiles in minutes. This enables more frequent and timely measurements of stockpiles, which can help with inventory management, planning, and optimization.
– **Accuracy**: Drones can achieve high levels of accuracy and precision by using advanced sensors and technologies, such as RTK (real-time kinematic) positioning, GNSS (global navigation satellite system) receivers, LiDAR (light detection and ranging), or photogrammetry (the science of making measurements from photographs). These technologies allow drones to capture georeferenced data that can be aligned with existing maps or models, resulting in consistent and reliable measurements over time.
– **Cost-effectiveness**: Drones can reduce the operational costs of stockpile management by saving time, labor, and resources. Drones can also increase the profitability of stockpiles by providing accurate and up-to-date information on their volume and value.

How to Conduct Drone Stockpile Surveys Using DJI Enterprise Drones and DJI Terra Software

To conduct drone stockpile surveys using DJI Enterprise drones and DJI Terra software, follow these steps:

1. **Determine the right hardware**: Choose a drone that has a high-quality camera with a large sensor, mechanical shutter, high-grade optics, and sufficient megapixel count. A drone with a GNSS receiver and RTK positioning can also improve the data accuracy by using more satellites and correcting the GPS errors in real-time. Some examples of DJI Enterprise drones that are suitable for stockpile surveys are the Phantom 4 RTK, the Matrice 300 RTK, or the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced.
2. **Create a mission**: Use a drone mapping software platform, such as DJI Terra or Esri Site Scan, to plan your flight path and parameters. You can set the flight altitude, speed, overlap rate, camera angle, and other settings according to your site conditions and desired accuracy level. You can also use ground control points (GCPs) to improve the georeferencing of your data by placing markers on known locations on the ground and recording their coordinates.
3. **Fly the drone**: Execute your flight plan using the drone mapping software or the DJI GS RTK app on your mobile device or remote controller. The drone will fly autonomously over the stockpile area and capture images and data according to your settings. You can monitor the flight status and progress on your device screen.
4. **Process the data**: Transfer the data from your drone to your computer or cloud storage. Use DJI Terra or another drone mapping software platform to process the data and create high-resolution 2D maps and 3D models of your stockpiles. You can adjust the parameters and settings of your processing according to your needs and preferences.
5. **Analyze the stockpiles**: Use DJI Terra or another drone mapping software platform to measure the volume, density, mass, and value of your stockpiles. You can select the stockpile area and define the base plane for the calculation. You can also compare the stockpile data from different dates to monitor the changes and trends over time.
6. **Export the data**: Export the data and results from DJI Terra or another drone mapping software platform to your preferred format, such as PDF, CSV, KML, or GeoTIFF. You can also share the data and results with your team or stakeholders using online platforms or applications.

Conclusion

Drones and sensors are transforming the way stockpile management and inventory control are conducted at bulk terminals. By using drones and sensors, you can measure your stockpiles with high levels of safety, speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. You can also use DJI Enterprise drones and DJI Terra software to conduct drone stockpile surveys with ease and efficiency.

References

– Drones For Stockpile Measurements – heliguy™. (2022). Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://www.heliguy.com/blogs/posts/drones-for-stockpile-measurements
– Miller, K. (2023). Stockpile Measurements with DJI Enterprise Drones and DJI Terra. Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://enterprise-insights.dji.com/blog/stockpile-measurement-with-dji-drones
– Volumetrics | Stockpile Measurement | FlyGuys. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://flyguys.com/drone-services/volumetrics/
– Drone Stockpile Volumes | Survey, Inspect, Film. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://www.visualpursuit.co.uk/stockpile-volumes-by-drone
– Using Drones for Stockpile Volume Measurements – Coptrz. (2018). Retrieved October 30, 2023, from https://coptrz.com/blog/using-drones-for-stockpile-volume-measurements/