Stage 2: Development Stage

Using a drone, DATA PKT assists in optimising the following processes throughout the mining development phase:-

Haulage Road Optimization

A haul road is a type of road in the mining industry used to transport heavy and bulky materials by haul trucks. It is sometimes referred to as a haulage road or a haul track.

Material hauling accounts for a significant portion of a mine's expenses. A safe transportation system is made possible by well-designed and maintained roads, which immediately cut cycle times, fuel consumption, tyre prices, and overall cost per tonne transported.

Drones are capable of performing a range of activities connected to haulage roads, including precision mapping, time-sensitive land surveys, and quick road inspections. Drones are necessary for the long-term and economic management of transportation infrastructure and road upkeep.

Surveying and Mapping

Traditional surveying techniques require careful measuring, planning, and preparation, which adds delay to the data collection process. Drones, on the other hand, can gather all of this data in a very short amount of time. A conventional survey would take 70% longer than one using drones. In addition, as compared to traditional surveys, drone surveys need half the amount of labour.

Tailings dam monitoring

Most notably in metallurgical or coal mines, tailings dams are a familiar sight. They may cover entire square kilometres and are built of earth. They act as a garbage repository for all the contaminated byproducts of mining activities. When you decide to use a drone to monitor your tailings dam, you instantly cut down on the dangers of surveying staff by cutting the likelihood of people entering unsafe regions by 48%. Drone surveying is possible using just line-of-sight distance. There is no longer a need for them to remain so near to the area's harmful chemicals and dust.

Stage 3: Production Stage

Stockpile management and calculation

Stockpile management is crucial for minimizing environmental impact and ensuring regulatory compliance in mining and construction activities. By implementing erosion control measures such as proper covering, grading, and vegetation, companies can mitigate the risk of sediment flow from soil stockpiles, preserving nearby waterways and ecosystems. Moreover, stockpile management becomes imperative when dealing with erodible materials, as it helps prevent soil loss, contamination, and potential hazards to surrounding areas.

DATA PKT revolutionizes stockpile management by providing comprehensive solutions tailored to the specific needs of miners. Through advanced technology integration, DATA PKT enables transparent operations by providing stakeholders with real-time access to crucial data and analytics. Enhanced inventory management ensures optimal utilization of resources while minimizing waste and redundancy. Real-time quarry monitoring allows for proactive decision-making and risk mitigation, enhancing safety and operational efficiency. Additionally, the use of drones for stockpile evaluation provides accurate volumetric measurements, improving planning and forecasting capabilities. Overall, DATA PKT empowers miners to streamline their stockpile management processes, leading to cost savings, time efficiencies, and sustainable operations.

Stage 4: Land Reclamation

Reclamation of mined land is the process of restoring it to the condition it was in before mining. When you restore land, you are minimizing the negative environmental consequences of mining. Reforestation and new development are the most typical methods of reclamation.

The most accurate approach to predict how much work is left to do and when reclamation will start is to use a drone, which also aids in tracking extraction progress and material movement. Aerial surveys employing numerous drone flights are the quickest and most reliable way to get this data.

Benefits of using drones in the mining sector:-

Site Safety Management

Mining sites feature volatile sections with rugged terrain where safety is of the utmost priority. Drones can give precise, high-quality photogrammetric data of mines, which is subsequently turned into digital elevation and surface models. This allows for improved management and task implementation of mining sites

Automated Inspection

Compared to traditional methods, drones with built-in automation assess mining blast sites without endangering human lives. The expense associated with employing significant human resources can be avoided by automating mine inspection using drones. Drones gather an enormous quantity of data that may be used to create othomosaic maps to provide an updated perspective of vast tracts of land.

Site Monitoring And Mapping

DATA PKT drones monitor mining sites with high-quality embedded sensors and give real-time, cost-effective data access. Deep mining tunnels that are inaccessible manually can be monitored by UAVs. This aids in site surveillance and the discovery of any leaks that can endanger human life. Real-time data access guarantees that corrective actions be implemented as soon as problems are found.

Mine Survey Using Lidar

The use of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) for measuring and inspecting mining pits assists in the creation of precise topographical maps of mining operations. Drones integrated with LiDAR sensors to aid in obtaining precise information about the steepness of embankments and unstable ground foundations. While keeping on-site surveyors secure, drones assist surveyors to navigate topographically difficult areas.

Volume Calculation

Volume calculations are important in mining as it helps in determining the cost and efficiency of machines and mining methods. Traditionally, RTK-GPS systems are required to be installed, the installation can be life-threatening for the miner, therefore Digital terrain modelling(DTM) can be used for volume calculations with the help of Drones.