3D modelling of Pharmakas Quarry

3D modelling of Pharmakas Quarry

Using drone surveying to measure stockpiles and earth volumes is a quick, safe, and reliable way which is commonly used in earthwork sites around the world. Drone surveying basically means using a drone to take aerial photos of a site, combined with some form of GPS data and ground control to provide geographical context (3d coordinates).

With geo-referenced images captured by a drone flying above a worksite, and through the use of photogrammetry methods, 3D models can be generated and be used to take a variety of measurements, including stockpile volume calculations. Flying a drone to survey your site is significantly faster—up to 10x faster, by some estimates—than conventional ground-based methods. It’s also safer for surveyors to stand by and let the drone collect the data instead of walking through a dangerous site themselves.

Once the imagery and ground control data acquired, it needs to be processed into a 3D model. The generated 3D model can then be used to extract multiple data outputs such as point clouds, digital elevation models, 2D and 3D contour maps, ortho-mosaics and more. These can be exported for use in other GIS and CAD programs. Once the model is generated, the site can be analysed using a visualization software and volumes can be easily and automatically calculated, which helps to keep track of the site works progress and keep stock of material inventory.

Pharmakas Quarry

In this context, Geoimaging with an extensive experience and expertise in flying drones to create maps and 3D models was hired by a client to offer UAV mapping solutions and to produce a 3D model of a Quarry in Farmakas area, Nicosia. The general procedure of the aerial mapping lasted only a few days. The first step of the procedure was to install targets on the ground in locations specified by our surveyors. These had to be large enough to be visible in aerial photos. Then we surveyed these targets and provided their horizontal and vertical coordinates by using survey grade global positioning systems (GPS). The next step was to schedule the flight over the site-area to capture the imagery. Our experienced personnel actually flied the drone over the quarry, taking a series of photos with a large format aerial camera. During this process, multiple overlapping photos of the ground are captured from different angles as the aircraft flies autonomously along a flight path that we specify beforehand. This ensures we don’t miss anything and enough image overlap is achieved (70% front overlap and 60% side overlap).

After acquiring the aerial images, the data were then processed properly in the office to create 3D models, large orthographic photomosaics, contour maps and elevation models (DTM, DSM). During this process, images are aligned together based on the known ground target locations. The final georeferenced products of the project area give the ability to take accurate measurements of length, area and volume straight from the map.

3D modelling of Pharmakas

Orthomosaic

3D modelling of Pharmakas

Contour lines

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