Drone Stockpile Surveys, LiDAR and Mapping for Mines and Quarries
Accurate volumes and terrain models, fast, without putting staff on the stockpile or the highwall.
Mines and quarries need reliable numbers: stockpile volumes for month-end reporting, pit and face surveys for planning, and terrain models for design, drainage and rehabilitation. Recon's drone mapping and LiDAR capture an entire site quickly and safely, with results in days, not weeks.
The Problems We Help Solve
Safe, frequent and consistent measurement.
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Everything is captured from the air, with no one walking unstable ground.
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A drone flight covers a site in minutes to hours, so you can survey as often as you need.
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Consistent, repeatable volumes on the same control, every time.
What We Measure
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Stockpile Volumes
Volumes typically within 3%, with reports usually within 24–48 hours of the flight.
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Pit & Face Surveys
High-resolution models of faces and benches, captured without anyone near the edge.
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Terrain & Change Detection
Terrain models for design and rehabilitation, and repeat surveys to measure movement and progress.
Stockpile Volume Surveys
Drone photogrammetry or LiDAR builds a detailed surface model of each stockpile. We calculate volumes against an agreed base and report them in a consistent format for month-end reconciliation.
A set of stockpiles is typically flown in around 15 minutes with no interruption to loaders or conveyors. Surveys can also support conveyor and weightometer calibration and production planning.
Projects Across New Zealand
Recent work. Client names are withheld; we're happy to provide references.
North Island: heavy-industry site, mineral stockpiles. Regular drone stockpile volume surveys for reconciliation and conveyor calibration.
North Island: scrap metal stockpiles. Month-end drone volume surveys.
Southland: transmission line access way, Fiordland National Park. Drone LiDAR of steep, high-risk landslide and rockfall sites.
How We Deliver
We agree the base surfaces, reporting format and schedule, and install permanent control.
Set up
Short flights around your operations under your site rules.
Fly
Volume report, surface models and change comparisons, typically within 24–48 hours.
Report
Certified, Safe and Fully Compliant
Recon is a CAA Part 102 certificated unmanned aircraft operator. Part 102 is the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand’s certification for commercial drone operators who need to work beyond the standard Part 101 rules, and it is only granted once the CAA has reviewed and approved how an operator identifies and manages every hazard and risk.
What Part 102 certification means for your project:
More places we can fly: our certificate allows us to be approved for work that standard Part 101 rules restrict, such as flying over people or property, near aerodromes or in controlled airspace, subject to the conditions of our certificate and the required permissions.
A CAA-approved exposition: every operation follows our approved procedures for pilot competency, aircraft maintenance, flight planning and emergency response.
Job-specific risk management: each inspection includes a site risk assessment, airspace checks and coordination with air traffic control, landowners and site managers where needed.
Ongoing CAA oversight: as a certificated operator we are subject to CAA audits, giving asset owners and principal contractors confidence that the work meets New Zealand aviation safety standards.
Alongside our Part 102 certification, Recon holds SiteWise Gold accreditation and is a Site Safe member, so our health and safety systems meet the expectations of New Zealand’s leading contractors and asset owners.
Mining & Quarrying FAQs
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Volumes are typically within 3%, depending on stockpile shape, the agreed base surface and ground conditions. Because we use the same control and method every time, month-to-month changes are very consistent.
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No. We plan flights around loaders, trucks and conveyors under your site rules. A set of stockpiles is usually captured in minutes.
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Most sites survey monthly to match reporting, with extra surveys at stocktakes, financial year-end or after large movements. We can schedule a fixed programme.
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Yes. Repeat LiDAR surveys on the same control can measure changes in faces, batters and slopes, helping your geotechnical team spot movement early.
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Yes. Everything is captured from the air, so no one needs to work near edges or on unstable ground.
Our Drone Fleet & Equipment
DJI Matrice 300 RTK
Heavy-lift inspection and survey platformOur workhorse for demanding sites. RTK positioning, up to 55 minutes of flight time and IP45 weather resistance let us fly longer, more precise missions while carrying professional camera payloads.
DJI Camera Payloads
Zenmuse H20, P1, XT2 and L2The full-frame P1 with 35mm and 50mm lenses captures survey-grade imagery for photogrammetry and 3D models. The H20 zoom camera inspects fine detail from a safe distance, the XT2 thermal camera reveals heat-related faults, and the L2 LiDAR sensor captures accurate 3D point clouds.
DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise
Compact rapid-deployment droneQuick to deploy on smaller sites, roofs and tight spaces. Its mechanical-shutter wide camera and zoom camera deliver sharp inspection imagery and mapping data without the setup of a larger aircraft.