Publication: Application of drone in quarrying and mining
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Date
2025-08-07
Authors
Nur Durratul Ramizah binti Mohamad Damanhuri
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Abstract
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly referred to as drones, provide a novel way to address important issues in mining and quarrying operations, such as the ineffectiveness of conventional surveying, the serious risks to worker safety, and the difficulties in gathering high-density data for accurate analysis. This study uses drone-based photogrammetry, using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with high-resolution cameras for geological data collecting and analysis in an operational granite quarry. The purpose of this study is to show how drones can be effectively utilised for volumetric calculations, 3D modelling, and discontinuity analysis to evaluate slope stability. Drone was deployed to capture aerial images of the quarry site. The data were processed using Agisoft Metashape and Pix4D Mapper to generate 3D terrain models and for stockpile volume estimation. The point cloud data from Agisoft then exported into Discontinuity Set Extractor for discontinuities analysis. Discontinuities on slope faces were identified using Discontinuity Set Extractor (DSE) and further refined through CloudCompare software. The results showed that drone-based volume estimation of stockpiles and hills was highly accurate and efficient. Slope discontinuity analysis successfully highlighted potential structural hazards, proving effective for risk assessment. In conclusion, this project confirms that integrating drones with photogrammetry and geological analysis software improves operational efficiency, enhanced safety, and provides accurate, real-time data for better decision-making in mining and quarrying activities.