Mining Industry - Drone Services

Magnometry surveys

Drones for mineral exploration provide ultra high-resolution imagery to help mining companies locate mineral deposits. A magnetometer measures an object’s magnetic strength and magnetic direction, allowing users to track down objects or areas with iron content.

Drone magnetometer surveys are usually conducted at low height, in a towed bird arrangement when the equipment is towed behind an aircraft to guarantee survey resolution and terrain coverage.

Hazard identification

Drones can be sent into dangerous or inaccessible areas like underground tunnels or open pits to assess for structural weaknesses or gas leaks. Their advanced sensors, thermal imaging and high-resolution cameras can detect danger the human eye can’t, reducing risk to personnel.

Dams & tailings

Tailings dams and water storage facilities represent some of the highest-risk infrastructure in mining operations, requiring constant vigilance to prevent catastrophic failure. Our drones, including our drone-in-a-box (DiaB) systems,  provide comprehensive monitoring solutions that enhance safety while reducing the need for personnel to access potentially hazardous areas.

Regular drone inspections can detect early warning signs of structural issues such as seepage, cracks, erosion or settlement in dam walls and embankments. Continuous monitoring allows for consistent data collection and rapid responses to changes in dam conditions, ensuring safe and compliant operation of tailings facilities.

Site monitoring & inspection

Drones for mining can also be used to monitor and inspect equipment for failure, increasing the efficiency of operations. Thermal cameras will detect overheating in components, while drones can also inspect all the infrastructure on a site, analysing it for corrosion, damage or leaks.

Emergency response

Drones provide critical real-time data and information, improving safety across the board. We use them as initial reconnaissance in areas affected by collapse, fire or gas leak, to identify threats or hazards before deploying a human crew.

Their thermal imaging allows them to detect body-heat even in areas of low visibility, making them effective for search and rescue. They can also carry emergency supplies to inaccessible areas.

Stockpile management

Drones can survey stockpiles of ore and waste to calculate their volume with high precision. Their aerial surveys help with inventory management and provide accurate data for financial reporting.

Mapping

Drone land surveying and mapping is routinely utilised by the mining industry. Our drones can create detailed 2D and 3D maps of vast terrain, providing detailed visual information for mine planning, design and earthworks.

This drone data can also be used to create digital twins of mining assets or equipment to monitor its performance and predict its maintenance needs going forward.