Quarry surveying is used to accurately measure and map features within and around a quarry site for new construction projects or to ensure the area is safe for operation, by examining surrounding materials at a site including stone, rock and sand.
Volumetric surveys can be used in mining and quarrying industries to provide accurate volumetric measurements for efficient operations and financial planning in a project.
This guide explores what quarry surveying is, the history of quarry surveying and how it works today.
What is the history of quarry surveying?
Historically, quarry surveying came with a range of challenges, including traditional instruments, manual data collection methods and working in dangerous environments when onsite at a quarry.
The development of Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) changed the approach to surveying, especially quarry surveying.
By transmitting an infrared beam and reflecting it through a prism, surveyors were able to obtain the direct measurement of a distance. EDM was then integrated into the classic theodolite, creating the modern total station.
The introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS) in the 1990s was revolutionary for surveying equipment, because it eliminated the need for a line-of-sight measurement, meaning the onboard logging capabilities for better data capture and storage were improved. In the late 1990’s, remote measuring, which consisted of using a laser to measure the distance to quarry faces, meant that quarry surveying became safer. There was no longer a need for surveyors to approach any unsafe areas, like steep slops or uneven surfaces.
How does quarry surveying work today?
Today, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – or drone surveys – are used in quarry surveying projects, which eliminates unnecessary health and safety risks by reducing the need for surveyors to collect data from unsafe quarry, landfill or mining environments. This makes the overall surveying process more efficient, with data collection more accurate for precise measurements, meaning construction or other projects can be carried out with no delays or unexpected extra costs.
With modern surveying equipment, 3D point cloud data for a quarry survey can be collected within a day before being used to generate extremely accurate 3D models of a quarry site, using a LiDAR scanner. This model can then be overlayed with contour data to provide a fully comprehensive map.
What issues does quarry surveying address?
Quarry surveying is used to address multiple issues, all of which can help improve the safety of quarry sites:
- Calculate stockpile volumes: the most common issue a volumetric survey addresses is calculating stockpile volumes, used to check production quantities and book values, since some quarries have to pay royalties to mineral owners.
- Changes in quarry features: excavations of quarries mean that large quantities of earth and materials, meaning the topography of a quarry changes quickly, so our surveys can be used to monitor position and height of faces.
- Independent volume surveys: used to independently check contractors’ quantities, these surveys are often completed as a joint survey with the contractor to agree on figures.
- Aid in planning: quarries have long lifespans, but eventually, they become worked out and are then restored to be used as wildlife habitats, country parks or visitor attractions
Choosing Lucion for your Quarry Surveys
At Lucion, our expert land and building surveyors have extensive experience in conducting quarry surveys with UAVs to maximise precise data collection and accurate measurements. Contact us today to see how we can support you with our quarry surveying project.
