--- title: Stockpile management with drone data collection | Measure Australia description: Accurate stockpile data is important but traditional surveying is dangerous, costly and time-consuming. Drone data collection with a smart data platform is the answer. image: https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/hubfs/MA%20blogs/mining-production-optimisation_920px20170923025805808.jpg --- [![Measure Australia](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/ma-theme/images/ma-logo.svg) ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/) ## Main menu - [Services](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA-I-Services-LiDAR.png) LiDAR Laser Surveying Accurate and precise data capture ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/lidar) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA-I-Services-InspectionReporting.png) Drone Asset, Building & Roof Inspections Optimise asset value and lifecycle ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/drone-building-roof-inspections) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA-I-Services-BVLOS.png) Beyond Visual Line of Sight - BVLOS Capture data Beyond Visual Line of Sight ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/bvlos) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA-I-Services-SurveyingMapping-BB2X.png) Drone Aerial Mapping & Land Surveying Avoid hazardous locations and arduous environments ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/drone-mapping-surveying) [View All Services](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services) - [Industries](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20Agriculture%20P.png) Agriculture Quantify crop health, manage water stress, & create spraying & application prescriptions, uploadable to smart equipment. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/agriculture-drone-solutions) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20Resources%20P.png) Resources Manage extraction volumes, quantify stockpiles & monitor change through 3D site measurements & periodic pickups. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/resources-drone-solutions) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20InsuranceP.png) Insurance Reduce time for assessments & payouts through technological advancements, quality service including meeting all time-to-site requirements, & maintain records. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/insurance-drone-solutions) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20ConstructionP.png) Construction Comprehensive drone data solutions reduce risks to construction companies through auditable & defensible visual records. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/construction-drone-solutions) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20InfrastructureP.png) Infrastructure Engineered data & specialist reports allow whole-of-asset management, reducing operating costs & increasing efficiencies. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/infrastructure-drone-solutions) - [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20website%20HS/Icons/MA%20-%20I%20-%20Property.svg) Property Improve property management operations and decrease cost for better portfolio management and performance optimisation. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/property-drone-solutions) [View All Industries](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries) - [Case Studies](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies) - [![](https://pages.asseti.co/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(13).png) Snowy Hydro finds a better way to protect critical infrastructure Snowy Hydro, one of Australia's most iconic hydro-electric networks, transformed its infrastructure protection strategy by adopting drone-based LiDAR technology. Partnering with Measure Australia and Asseti, Snowy Hydro enhanced safety, improved data accuracy, and streamlined vegetation management—eliminating the risks and costs associated with helicopter inspections. ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies/snowy-hydro-critical-infrastructure-protection) - [![Solar power plant audit, with LiDAR, thermal imagery and visual inspection - built into a digital twin](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20case%20studies/MA-solar%20power%20plant%20(blind%20case%20study).jpg) Solar Power Plant Operator ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies/renewable-solar-power-plant) - [![One model built from the LiDAR point cloud for the Sackville project](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20case%20studies/Citisurv%20Sackville%20-%20DTM.jpg) CitiSurv Land Surveyors ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies/citisurv-land-surveyors) - [![LiDAR of the Murray River basin, Australia - credit to Geoscience Australia](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20case%20studies/team-geoscience-australia-ELVIS-1.png) Shellharbour City Council ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies/shellharbour-city-council) [View All Case Studies](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies) - [About](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/about-measure-australia) - [News](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news) [Contact Us](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/contact-us) [1300 200 014](tel:1300200014) ![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20blogs/mining-production-optimisation_920px20170923025805808.jpg) # Stockpile management with drone data collection by Measure Australia Stockpile management is vital in mining, quarrying, construction aggregates and any other application or sector where large volumes of physical material are stored, consumed or sold. Accurate stockpile data is necessary to efficient operations – but traditional surveying is dangerous, costly and time consuming. Survey teams physically entering the field to take precise measurements is increasingly considered an unacceptable exposure, as there are lower risk and more accurate alternatives made available with emerging technology. Drone data collection – especially using modern laser sensors – coupled with a smart data platform is the answer.   # How is highly accurate stockpile management beneficial?   The quote “what gets measured gets managed” is often misattributed to thought leader Peter Drucker, and has become controversial. So it is refreshing to consider a realm in which it is incontrovertibly fair. Stockpiles simply cannot be managed if they aren’t measured, accurate measurement facilitates more precise management, and more precise stockpile management is intrinsic to better operational efficiency. Stockpile management is foundationally connected with supply chain and operational efficiency in resources and similar sectors . Accurate stockpile control enables: - Optimal mine extraction - Timely replenishment of consumables or stock - Efficient team assignments - Elimination of unplanned downtime   # How to measure stockpiles accurately? Drone data collection coupled with a powerful data platform is the most efficient method currently available to measure stockpiles. Drones are versatile for deployment day or night, and with the slightest management can be managed without scheduled downtime. The factors to be considered are: 1. The type of drone used 2. How piloting is managed 3. The payload – that is, the camera or radar sensor deployed 4. Which data platform will be used for processing and visualisation Some stockpile operators manage his independently, running a fleet of pilots, drones, and managing their operating licences and approvals. There are guides for that model (including from Measure Australia!) and bottom line that will entail having a Chief Pilot or similar able to manage hardware selection, quality control and the intricacies of air law compliance under CASA and the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations, plus the engagement with stakeholders such as AirServices Australia. Data platform management will also need integration to self-operators.   # Stockpile measurement as a service Measure Australia eliminates the  complexity of accurate stockpile management by delivering stockpile measurement and drone data collection as a service. Our model combines a centralised team of highly skilled and experienced data and platform analysts, Chief Pilot and operations staff and a sizeable network of hundreds of pilots across the country. Managing hardware including payload, data processing and air compliance eliminates a great deal of complexity for stockpile managers. Measure Australia’s team  was able to distil a straightforward series of questions that would facilitate a professional recommendation on how ‘stockpile measurement as a service’ would look for a facility operator. ## Measure Australia’s questions 1. What materials are you stockpiling? 2. How many discrete stockpiles do you manage? 3. Where are they located and across how large an area? 4. What is the estimated change in volume in time (eg, roughly 10% per week, 25% per month) 5. How consistent is your usage? 6. What is your reporting cadence? This information should, in most circumstances, enable stockpile measurement as a service to be scoped, including answering the question most stockpile managers worry over – frequency. --- ### Use case: stockpile management This is a blind case study of a Measure Australia project.   ##### Demographics **Type of organisation**: mid-tier mining **Sector**: aggregate operations serving construction **Services**: data capture, processing and advisory as a service **Number of sites**: eight quarries   ##### Previous operation - Management contracted a team of surveyors to visit sites twice annually - Surveyors conducted mapping on the ground - Reports were issued as PDFs and included volumetric measurement with comparison to earlier volume findings and deliveries   ##### Operations with Measure - Outsourced stockpile measurement as a service with drone data collection - Drone survey conducted four times annually - Data processing conducted by Measure - Reporting via the Asseti platform with on-demand view of all historic measurements and input/output change reports   ##### Result of new stockpile measurement and management method - Reduction in survey hours by 10x – each site surveyed in 1 man hour instead of 20 (less time and fewer people in team), with twice as many surveys annually - Estimated stockpile accuracy improvement of 7.4%, due to increased frequency and higher resolution readings - Improved operational efficiency due to improved accuracy 2.8%, based on 2 years of new operations - Reduction in annual costs of 73%   [![Learn about drone data collection for: RESOURCES](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/7556667/af1f868d-7940-4838-8cbe-911a0d9f0187.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/7556667/af1f868d-7940-4838-8cbe-911a0d9f0187) ## More Measure Australia Articles [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20blogs/digital%20twin.png) Feeding the digital twins with data captured from many sources What is a digital twin? Digital twins are online recreations of a physical asset or asset network... Read more ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/fm/feeding-the-digital-twins-with-data-captured-from-many-sources) [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/Imported_Blog_Media/hills-3874056_1280-2.jpg) The Effects of Environmental Conditions on Drone-based LiDAR Applications for drone technology have been increasing substantially in recent years. One of these... Read more ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/the-effects-of-environmental-conditions-on-drone-based-lidar) [![](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/MA%20blogs/Mining-technology-MA-duotone.png) Feeding the digital twins: mine sites Digital twins are a huge opportunity within the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Digital twins have the... Read more ](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/feeding-the-digital-twins-mine-site-optimisation) [View All Articles](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news) ![Measure Australia](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/hubfs/raw_assets/public/ma-theme/images/ma-logo.svg) Spatial data is powerful. Begin your journey today.  [Talk to us now](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/contact-us) Get service updates - [About](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/about-measure-australia) - [Case Studies](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/casestudies) - [News](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news) - [LiDAR Sample Datasets](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/lidar-sample-datasets) - [Contact & Support](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/contact-us) - [Careers](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/careers/) - [Become a Pilot](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/pilot-registration) - [Services](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services) - [LiDAR Laser Surveying](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/lidar) - [Drone Asset, Building & Roof Inspections](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/drone-building-roof-inspections) - [Beyond Visual Line of Sight - BVLOS](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/bvlos) - [Drone Aerial Mapping & Land Surveying](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/services/drone-mapping-surveying) - [Industries](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries) - [Agriculture](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/agriculture-drone-solutions) - [Resources](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/resources-drone-solutions) - [Insurance](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/insurance-drone-solutions) - [Construction](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/construction-drone-solutions) - [Infrastructure](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/infrastructure-drone-solutions) - [Property](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/industries/property-drone-solutions) © 2026 All rights reserved. - [An Asseti Company](https://www.asseti.co) - [Terms of Use](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/terms-and-conditions) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/privacy-policy) - Tel 1300 200 014 [Follow us on Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/MeasureAustralia/) [Follow us on LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/measure-australia/) [Follow us on Twitter ](https://www.instagram.com/measureaustralia/?hl=en) ![Measure Australia](//f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/raw_assets/public/ma-theme/images/ma-logo.svg) Sign In Don't have an account? [Register now](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/stockpile-management-with-drone-data-collection#registration). Keep me signed in Login [Rest Password](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/stockpile-management-with-drone-data-collection#reset-password) ![Measure Australia](//f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/raw_assets/public/ma-theme/images/ma-logo.svg) Create Your Account Already have an account? [Sign In](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/stockpile-management-with-drone-data-collection#sign-in). I agree to the [terms & conditions](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/terms.html) Register ![Measure Australia](//f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hubfs/7556667/raw_assets/public/ma-theme/images/ma-logo.svg) Forgot your password? Tell us your email address, and we'll get you back on track in no time. Reset password [Back to sign in](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/stockpile-management-with-drone-data-collection#sign-in) Check your inbox for reset instructions, and pick a fresh new password [Back to sign in](https://www.measureaustralia.com.au/news/c-mines/stockpile-management-with-drone-data-collection#sign-in)