3DroneMapping has been working hard to provide its clients, particularly in the mining sector, with a solution for rapid, high-frequency remote mine drone LiDAR surveys at remote sites. It was noticed particularly during COVID-19, that travel to and from difficult-to-reach sites for skilled personnel like surveyors and pilots became a challenge. As periodical surveys like stockpile report timelines are fixed, there became a great danger of delaying the data capture and end reporting due to travel restrictions or issues of cargo clearance complications.
From an article in sUAS News by Luke Wijnberg.
For this reason, 3DroneMapping decided to work on a remote survey solution for repeated fixed locations.
For the past 2 years, 3DroneMapping‘s R&D division has been working with its partners in East Africa to demonstrate the financial feasibility of medical cargo deliveries via a drone platform. The study was based on a “hub and spoke” design where a central base coordinated the routings, monitored flights and liaised with ground staff at remote sites like clinics and hospitals, up to 115km away.
As radio communication with the base station and the drone was impossible due to terrain and distance, an internet-based link was designed to control and command operations. This proved highly effective and it was realized that the control link was now, in fact, limitless as the aircraft could be controlled from anywhere in the world.
From the lessons learnt in East Africa, the team quickly modified the communications link to work for survey-specific drones and LiDAR payloads. A package was designed with a CCTV camera and a weather station that would allow operators to remotely undertake surveys from anywhere in the world. All that was required locally was a brief training for mine staff on drone setup, battery charging and data upload.
For the complete article on remote mine drone lidar CLICK HERE.
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