Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion
Conducting topographic surveys in active mines is challenging due ongoing operations and hazards, particularly in highwalls subject to constant and active mass movements (rock and earth falls, slides and flows). These vertical and long surfaces are the core of most mines, as the mineral feeding mini...
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doaj-daa9c4829c2c4e239a26621f6217bd882021-09-09T13:54:58ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-08-01133353335310.3390/rs13173353Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from MotionIgnacio Zapico0Jonathan B. Laronne1Lázaro Sánchez Castillo2José F. Martín Duque3Geodynamics, Stratigraphy and Paleontology Department, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 653, Beer-Sheva 84105, IsraelDepartment of Mining and Geologic Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid, 28003 Madrid, SpainGeodynamics, Stratigraphy and Paleontology Department, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, SpainConducting topographic surveys in active mines is challenging due ongoing operations and hazards, particularly in highwalls subject to constant and active mass movements (rock and earth falls, slides and flows). These vertical and long surfaces are the core of most mines, as the mineral feeding mining production originates there. They often lack easy and safe access paths. This framework highlights the importance of accomplishing non-contact high-accuracy and detailed topographies to detect instabilities prior to their occurrence. We have conducted drone flights in search of the best settings in terms of altitude mode and camera angle, to produce digital representation of topographies using Structure from Motion. Identification of discontinuities was evaluated, as they are a reliable indicator of potential failure areas. Natural shapes were used as control/check points and were surveyed using a robotic total station with a coaxial camera. The study was conducted in an active kaolin mine near the Alto Tajo Natural Park of East-Central Spain. Here the 140 m highwall is formed by layers of limestone, marls and sands. We demonstrate that for this vertical landscape, a facade drone flight mode combined with a nadir camera angle, and automatically programmed with a computer-based mission planning software, provides the most accurate and detailed topographies, in the shortest time and with increased flight safety. Contrary to previous reports, adding oblique images does not improve accuracy for this configuration. Moreover, neither extra sets of images nor an expert pilot are required. These topographies allowed the detection of 93.5% more discontinuities than the Above Mean Sea Level surveys, the common approach used in mining areas. Our findings improve the present SfM-UAV survey workflows in long highwalls. The versatile topographies are useful for the management and stabilization of highwalls during phases of operation, as well closure-reclamation.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/17/3353highwallminingtopographySfM-UAVaccuracy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ignacio Zapico Jonathan B. Laronne Lázaro Sánchez Castillo José F. Martín Duque |
spellingShingle |
Ignacio Zapico Jonathan B. Laronne Lázaro Sánchez Castillo José F. Martín Duque Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion Remote Sensing highwall mining topography SfM-UAV accuracy |
author_facet |
Ignacio Zapico Jonathan B. Laronne Lázaro Sánchez Castillo José F. Martín Duque |
author_sort |
Ignacio Zapico |
title |
Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion |
title_short |
Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion |
title_full |
Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion |
title_fullStr |
Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improvement of Workflow for Topographic Surveys in Long Highwalls of Open Pit Mines with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and Structure from Motion |
title_sort |
improvement of workflow for topographic surveys in long highwalls of open pit mines with an unmanned aerial vehicle and structure from motion |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Remote Sensing |
issn |
2072-4292 |
publishDate |
2021-08-01 |
description |
Conducting topographic surveys in active mines is challenging due ongoing operations and hazards, particularly in highwalls subject to constant and active mass movements (rock and earth falls, slides and flows). These vertical and long surfaces are the core of most mines, as the mineral feeding mining production originates there. They often lack easy and safe access paths. This framework highlights the importance of accomplishing non-contact high-accuracy and detailed topographies to detect instabilities prior to their occurrence. We have conducted drone flights in search of the best settings in terms of altitude mode and camera angle, to produce digital representation of topographies using Structure from Motion. Identification of discontinuities was evaluated, as they are a reliable indicator of potential failure areas. Natural shapes were used as control/check points and were surveyed using a robotic total station with a coaxial camera. The study was conducted in an active kaolin mine near the Alto Tajo Natural Park of East-Central Spain. Here the 140 m highwall is formed by layers of limestone, marls and sands. We demonstrate that for this vertical landscape, a facade drone flight mode combined with a nadir camera angle, and automatically programmed with a computer-based mission planning software, provides the most accurate and detailed topographies, in the shortest time and with increased flight safety. Contrary to previous reports, adding oblique images does not improve accuracy for this configuration. Moreover, neither extra sets of images nor an expert pilot are required. These topographies allowed the detection of 93.5% more discontinuities than the Above Mean Sea Level surveys, the common approach used in mining areas. Our findings improve the present SfM-UAV survey workflows in long highwalls. The versatile topographies are useful for the management and stabilization of highwalls during phases of operation, as well closure-reclamation. |
topic |
highwall mining topography SfM-UAV accuracy |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/17/3353 |
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