Stockpile Measure
Stockpile measurement is a technique to measure the volume and weight of commodity stockpiles. It is a scientific/instrumental method, using GPS and Drone equipment to determine the volume of the stockpile quantity. Any shape of stockpile can be measured as long as the whole surface is visible. Under Roof Stocks can be measured using Total Station equipment. The measurements (data from site) are automatically stored in the data logger (data collector) of the GPS instrument. The data is downloaded to a PC to calculate the volume and generating contour map by using Modelmaker software. Bulk density is determined from the average field test results of an individual stockpile. The mass of the stockpile is calculated by multiplying the volume by the density. Time to complete measurement for each pile will vary according to the shape and profile. Generating the quantity from the software is very fast with the density available. Normally, we generate the provisional report of each day. Thus, you can expect to have the quantity on a daily basis.
Tailings Dam Freeboard Measure
We measure the entire Tailings facility using GPS and Drone equipment at intervals as determined by the Risk factor of each dam. This is useful for the determination of the Freeboard at the time of measurement. Freeboard is one of the most important aspects to maintain and control on tailings dams to ensure safety. Therefore, it is common practice to specify regulatory freeboard. These requirements often simply define a storm event to impound (typically a 1:50 to 1:100 year, 24-hour event) plus an additional 0.8 m. This approach is fundamentally different to best practice related to water dams where freeboard is assessed by considering extreme storm events as well as secondary aspects such as wave run-up, seiches and surges.
The Tailings facility Survey is also used for the determination of Slope stability monitoring, Slope sluffing or collapse. Piezometer Elevations are measured and updated each time a survey is conducted in order to determine the accurate level of the phreatic table.
Building and Construction Surveys
Building construction surveying is to stake out reference points and markers that will guide the construction of new buildings. These markers are usually staked out according to a suitable coordinate system selected for the project.
In addition to setting out works and level control our surveyors can also provide as-built surveys to accurately detail and document the works completed onsite. The physical location, height and/or depth of constructed elements and their relationship to design can be determined to allow for the preparation of a complete and accurate set of works-as-executed documents to accompany the final project handover documentation on completion.
Surface Blast Surveying Services
With the use of GPS we are involved in this process by setting out pegs for an area to be prepared for drilling, pegs for drill operators to know where to drill, as well as surveying the material once it has been blasted for blast profiling and determination of the swell factor of that particular material being blasted.
With the use of a drone we can video the blast as it happens for the determination of effective tie up methods and analysis for future improvements of blasting methods.
Open Pit Measure
Volume calculations are very important in mining to not only estimate the efficiency of machines and mining methods, but also to determine how much contractors should be paid if they are paid on a material-moved basis. These surveys and volumetric movement calculations are conducted once per month (it’s referred to as ‘End of Month’ volumes) and provide them to various sections of the mining company. The process of calculating these volumes is by conducting survey ‘pickups’ or ‘locations’ using various methods such as:
– Total Stations
– RTK GPS (Real-Time Kinematic – Global Positioning System), or ‘Surveying GPS’
– Automatic Laser Scanners
– Aerial Flyover Photogrammetric Data
Interested? Call me, Mark, 071 226 4409 or
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With more than 30 years experience, no project is too big for us!