Many people think that drones are taking over the jobs of surveyors but in reality, dronesare not replacing surveyors. They are simply helping them do their jobs better.
According to a blog post from Trimble, AI and robotics have advanced far enough thatworkers across industries share concern over being replaced. Surveyors often ask us ifdrones will make their jobs unnecessary—but nothing could be further from the truth. Infact, we’re passionate believers that drones are actively improving the professionallandscape for surveyors, engineers, contractors, and other earthworks professionals.Various industries are integrating drones into their workflows as drone technologybecomes increasingly streamlined and accessible. Drones can dramatically increaseproductivity and efficiency. As a result, drones are changing the way businesses operateby reducing costs, saving time, improving safety, and ensuring a direct return oninvestment. The use of drones has revolutionized surveying.
In the world of mining, surveying is a critical task that provides the vital data needed toplan, operate, and maintain complex extraction sites. Traditionally, this work hasinvolved teams of surveyors painstakingly traversing rugged terrain, takingmeasurements and observations by hand. However, a new tool is transforming thesurveyor’s role, the drone.
Drones are not replacing surveyors, but rather enhancing their capabilities inremarkable ways. They are a valuable tool in a surveyor’s toolbox. Like any other tool,they are only useful in conjunction with people, not instead of them. These unmannedaerial vehicles (UAVs) can quickly and safely gather data from large, inaccessible, andhazardous areas of a mine site. Using high-resolution cameras and other specializedsensors, drones can capture detailed aerial imagery, 3D models, and topographicalmaps that would be extremely difficult and dangerous for human surveyors to obtain.
Here are some of the ways drones complement the work of surveyors
Aerial Data Capture: Drones can quickly and safely capture aerial imagery anddata that would be difficult or dangerous for surveyors to obtain using traditionalmethods. This data can then be used by surveyors to create more detailed andaccurate maps, models, and measurements.
Detailed 3D Modeling: The high-resolution aerial data collected by drones can beprocessed into detailed 3D models of the mining site, providing surveyors with acomprehensive digital representation that they can use for various analysis andplanning tasks.
Monitoring and Inspection: Drones can be programmed to conduct regular,automated inspections of the mining site, monitoring for changes, potentialhazards, and progress over time. Surveyors can then use this data to identifyareas that require further investigation or intervention.
Improved Safety: By accessing hazardous or inaccessible areas with drones,mining companies can reduce the risk to their surveying personnel, improvingoverall safety and compliance with industry regulations.
Increased Productivity: The combination of drone-collected data and surveyor expertisecan lead to more efficient and effective decision-making, ultimately increasing theproductivity and cost-effectiveness of mining operations.
“Drones have become an invaluable asset for mine surveyors,” explains Jane Thompson,a senior mining engineer. “They allow us to work faster, more safely, and with greateraccuracy than ever before. The data we can collect from a single drone survey is simplyastounding.” Drones make surveyors’ work safer and more enjoyable in the followingways:
Worksite safety: Drones can fly over hazardous terrain, eliminating the need forsurveyors to put themselves at risk.
Dispute resolution: A single, shared source of truth keeps everyone on the samepage, making disputes a rare occurrence.
Less redundant work: Bad or confusing data creates redundant work, which hasa massive downstream impact on your bottom line. This can be prevented withfast, frequent surveys and updates one can share with all stakeholders.
Avoid downtime: Know ahead of time if a site isn’t ready for your crew—and getthe pictures to prove it. Our clients save thousands of dollars per day in avoideddowntime.
Worker satisfaction: Safer, more efficient worksites create happier employees,reduce turnover, and boost workplace morale.
For example, from an article By Olivia Lewis on drone surveys a team of surveyors usingdrones was able to map an entire 100-acre open-pit mine in just a few hours. Thedetailed 3D model they generated provided crucial insights into the mine’s geography,infrastructure, and excavation progress – information that would have taken weeks togather manually. Conventionally, it would take surveyors several weeks to carry outsuch work without using drones.
Crucially, drone technology does not diminish the need for human expertise. Surveyorsare still essential for interpreting the vast amounts of data collected, identifying trendsand anomalies, and making informed decisions that drive mining operations forward.Drones simply empower surveyors to work more efficiently and effectively.
Drones are not replacing surveyors but helping them work better. They quickly andsafely gather data from large and complex areas, aiding in creating detailed maps andmodels. Human expertise is still needed for interpreting data, making decisions, andmanaging projects. Surveyors using drones can work faster and more accurate.
As the mining industry continues to evolve, the partnership between surveyors anddrones will only grow stronger. By embracing this drone technology, making use of thebest surveying drones like the DJI Phantom 4 RTKa and Elios 3, mining companies canoptimise their operations, reduce risks, and stay ahead of the curve in an increasinglycompetitive global market