Surveying & LiDAR
Stockpile Measurement by Drone
Accurate volumes for gravel, aggregate, sand, salt, grain and mining inventory.
[ 01 ]
What is stockpile volume measurement?
Drone stockpile measurement builds a 3D surface of each pile and calculates volume, giving accurate inventory numbers in minutes without walking on piles.
Benefits
- Fast, safe inventory
- Consistent month-end numbers
- Multiple piles per flight
- Audit-ready reports
How it works
- [ 01 ]Flight over yard
- [ 02 ]Surface modelling
- [ 03 ]Volume calculation per pile
- [ 04 ]Inventory report
[ 02 ]
Who uses stockpile volume measurement — and what it saves
- Gravel and aggregate yards
- Municipal sand/salt yards
- Grain handlers
- Mines
| Factor | Traditional method | With a drone |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Walking piles with GPS | Short flight, no one on the piles |
| Time | Hours to days | Minutes per pile |
| Published Canadian rates | Surveyor day rates plus access risk | Canadian providers publish ~$2,200 for a first survey and ~$1,350 recurring (up to six piles) |
Rates shown are published examples from Canadian drone providers, not ClearHorizon quotes — every yard is priced individually.
[ 02 ]
Stockpile Volume Measurement near you
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Saskatchewan
Kenora & NW Ontario
[ 03 ]
More surveying & lidar services
LiDAR Topographic Surveys
Bare-earth elevation models even beneath trees and brush.
Cut/Fill & Earthworks Analysis
Compare surfaces to design grades for grading, ditches and site preparation.
Farm Drainage & Elevation Mapping
Elevation, slope and water-flow maps for tile drainage and surface water planning.
Environmental & Erosion Monitoring
Repeatable mapping of wetlands, shorelines, erosion and reclamation sites across MB, SK and NW Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
+How accurate are drone stockpile volumes?
Typically within a few percent, often better than traditional walking surveys.
[ Knowledge base ]
Key terms on this page
- Stockpile Volumetrics
- Measuring the volume of gravel, sand, grain or other stockpiles from a drone survey.
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