SUPPORTING MINING THROUGH AERIAL SURVEYS Imagery, LIDAR & 3D Modelling Specialists
A
erometrex is a professional aerial mapping business, specialising in aerial imagery, photogrammetry, LiDAR, 3D modelling and
subscription service, MetroMap. Established in 1980, the company operates across Australia with global presence in USA, NZ, and Europe. The Aerometrex Promise High data quality: Great resolution, colour balance consistency, low imagery artefacts and seamless modelling and classification of the ground surface using LiDAR Great accuracy: Highest government, industry and surveying standards for quantitative applications such as measurement, artificial intelligence (AI) derived information extraction and change detection Quick delivery: Up to 3 day turn-around time for key mine site surveys; ideal for stockpile volume calculations Competitive pricing: With our extensive survey coverage and self-run aviation operations, we are able to offer our clients highly competitive pricing High standards of customer service: Professional, timely and accurate advice by a team which is known for catering to client requirements Experienced people: With a production-hardened workforce of over 100 staff, considerable ‘know-how’ and intellectual property has been accumulated by Aerometrex and is in daily use by its staff.
Products & Services Aerial Imagery and Mapping 3 band and 4 band orthoimagery derived from aerial captures (scale-corrected and geo-referenced) Digital Elevation Models Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), Digital Surface Models (DSMs), and digitised 3D feature data for GIS Aerial LIDAR Advanced aerial surveying technique, accurately mapping the ground surface using airborne lasers 3D Modelling Derived from oblique aerial imagery, producing highest resolution 3D models (2cm pixel) and absolute accuracy (5cm in the XY & Z dimensions)
Key Applications in Mining - Stockpile volume calculations - Environmental monitoring - Engineering survey mapping - Windrow/safety bund analysis - Rehab vegetation surveys - Corridor & exploration mapping - Feature extraction and change detection
AERIAL IMAGERY AND DIGITAL ELEVATION PRODUCTS
The key products from our airborne surveys using fixed
Aerometrex offers Digital Terrain Models (DTMs), Digital
wing aircrafts are aerial imagery and orthophotography
Surface Models (DSMs), and digitised 3D feature data
(scale-corrected 2D aerial imagery maps). This imagery is
for Geographic Information Systems. These can be
available in both 3-band (RGB) as well as 4-band (RGB +
generated through Imagery or LiDAR data.
Near Infrared). Large area digital elevation models help geologists High-resolution orthophotos and value-added data
analyse surface features and predict underground
through feature extraction provides information for
deposits during the exploration phase.
engineering design applications and reduces the number of ground surveys and disruptions to operations, thus
Digital surface models are particularly useful for
saving time and money.
volumetric calculation such as stockpile estimation and change-detection over quarries. They can also help
Our 4-band imagery offers the added benefit of near-
assess a mine’s resource extent and plan stripping
infrared imagery which provides information relative to
operations to quantify development costs.
the surrounding vegetation. This is especially useful to assess environmental impact of mining activities.
3 Band (RGB) Our 3-band RGB orthophoto is widely used in GIS. It is the most cost-effective map product to obtain precise georeferenced information in a 2D environment. 4 Band (RGB + NIR) Our 4-band imagery offers the added benefit of near-infrared imagery which provides information relative to the surrounding vegetation. This is useful to assess environmental impact and monitor the short and long term impact of mining activities. Embossed Image The embossed image is a 2D rectified, hill shaded product that provides a good indication of ground terrain. This can be used as a substitute for imagery to allow visualization of the ground. Digital Surface Models (DSM) Digital Surface Models are georeferenced regular grid datasets representing the first reflected surface detected by the sensor and will include surface features such as vegetation and man-made objects. Digital Terrain Models (DTM) A true representation of the bare earth surface is depicted once non-ground points are removed from the dataset. Filtered DTM can be delivered in las, xyz, dxf, dwg, csv or any other client requested format. Contours Contours are automatically generated from the bare earth surface model produced from a LiDAR survey. Contour intervals can be determined by the client and is dependent on the requested vertical accuracy.
LIDAR DERIVED PRODUCTS
Our airborne LIDAR surveys help create detailed 3D point
- Building a baseline archive of the site before operations
clouds of mine sites (colourised or classified) as well as
start, to record current landscape and features such as
generate other 3D-derived datasets. LIDAR offers a fast,
canopy definition, to support mine rehabilitation plans.
effective and highly accurate solution and vital data layer serving many purposes over the life of a mine. Some of
LIDAR surveys provide more accurate volume
these include:
calculations than what can be achieved by traditional surveying methods and significantly reduce the health
- Planning of site infrastructure, such as access roads,
and safety risks associated with having personnel on-site.
plant sites and support buildings
Aerometrex can typically provide volume calculations within three days of an aerial survey.
- Supporting flood management through hydrological studies and optimising dam sites for the mine’s ongoing
For open cut mines, LiDAR can provide a comprehensive
operations
three dimensional model of the entire mine site. Engineers and project managers can utilise this model to
- Supporting the design and maintenance of
monitor the site through time and show how the mine has
embankments using engineering studies derived from
expanded, providing an important historical perspective
LIDAR data
and prove to be an asset during site restoration.
3D Point Clouds LiDAR Point Clouds are a collection of points which contain X,Y and Z values. X – Eastings, Y – Northings and Z – Height Coordinates represent the shape of the surface and environment as a 3D model. Colourised Point Clouds LiDAR point clouds can be colourized with imagery where each LiDAR point includes three band pixel values. A colourized point cloud is particularly useful for 3D visualization for mining consultation and site planning. Classified Point Clouds LiDAR point clouds are usually ‘classified’.Classification refers to tagging each point in the point cloud with the object it identifies (i.e. vegetation, buildings, road surface etc).
Mine Windrow Analysis This tool is designed to enhance windrow monitoring. Given only a 2D road centreline and a recent LiDAR dataset, the tool creates profiles at set intervals and scans each profile for elevation changes, testing them for criteria matching windrow tops and toes. Key metrics including height, width, and slope are calculated from these points. Each profile is classified using pass/fail criteria and attributed with values.
Aerometrex provides clients a full report that includes a brief, shapefile attribute key, and images. Additionally, the company provides shapefiles of Road segments, Windrow lines and Road profiles.
3D MODELLING PRODUCTS
Aerometrex has developed a sophisticated 3D
3D models are especially useful for accurate
modelling and mapping system derived from oblique
measurement of stockpile volumes, 3D rock-face
aerial photographs. It offers 3D models of the highest
analysis, progress monitoring, and to communicate
resolution (up to 2cm pixel) and absolute accuracy (5cm
complex information in 3D to various stakeholders.
in the XY & Z dimensions) derived from aerial platforms aircrafts & helicopters.
3D APPLICATIONS Aerometrex 3D models are being used in mining and
3D mesh models are used to capture mining and quarry
infrastructure projects delivering a broad range of
sites including undercut and vertical structures. 3D
applications and benefits:
change can be performed using multi-captures as well as volume analysis.
- 3D Rock Face Analysis - Stockpile Volume Calculation
Such models form a useful 3D base dataset to extract
- Mine Site Progress Monitoring
critical 3D information and improve the planning and
- Stakeholder Visual Consultation
management of quarries and mine sites.
- 3D Change Detection & Analysis
SA Office
QLD Office
51-53 Glynburn Rd, Glynde SA 5070 08 8362 9911
Suite 1 Level 2, 9 Maud St Maroochydore QLD 4558 07 5445 2655 www.aerometrex.com.au