Open HOME page
Applications
Mining

Transform your mining operations with drone technologies

Explore faster, safer, and more cost-effective solutions for exploration, mapping, surveying, and monitoring.
DiscoverContact Us

Drone-based sensors offer benefits at every step of the mining value chain

Sensors-equipped drones solve everyday mining tasks up to 10x times faster, up to 70% cheaper, and with less risk than traditional methods

Drone Technologies of SPH Engineering for Mining

Prospecting & Surveying

Integrated systems help gather maximum information for operations planning and minimize survey risks

Tasks

  • Detect underground infrastructure and any metal objects
  • Search for unexploded ordnance in the potential mining area
  • Discover abandoned mines and wells

Solutions

UAV system
Drone + UgCS + True Terrain Following (TTF) kit
Sensors
based magnetometer by SPH Engineering
GPR with SkyHub by SPH Engineering
Drones
SPH Engineering - expert in drone technologies
Schedule a callContact Us

Exploration & Resource evaluation

Drones speed up the mineral exploration phase and allow more precise and cheaper surveys than helicopter-based and terrestrial methods

Tasks

  • Perform geologic mapping in the exploration for mineable minerals and other extractable resources
  • Identify ore bodies’ spatial distribution by searching for regional variations in the magnetic field
  • Conduct geological surveys to discover anomalies

Solutions

UAV system
Drone + UgCS + True Terrain Following (TTF) kit
Sensors
Drone based Magnetometer by SPH Engineering, integrated with SkyHub
GPR with SkyHub by SPH Engineering
Drones
SPH Engineering - expert in drone technologies
Schedule a callContact Us

Use Case

Exploration for blind geothermal systems

Customer
  • Nevada university
Objectives
  • Magnetics surveying to discover geothermal fluid pathways
Solution
Result
  • Able to scan the area 4-10X larger compared to ground surveying

Mining excavation & Haulage

Integrated UAV-based systems make real-time monitoring of mining sites possible

Tasks

  • Blast area surveys to plan operations and prevent risks to staff
  • Quantifying stockpile volume to plan excavation and estimate profits
  • Assets integrity control to ensure operational continuity
  • Identify tramp metal in stockpiles to prevent costly crushers outages

Solutions

UAV system
Drone + UgCS + True Terrain Following (TTF) kit
Sensors
Drone with LiDAR, SkyHub and UgCS

LiDAR

Drone based Magnetometer by SPH Engineering, integrated with SkyHub

Magnetometer

Software
Drone data storage and processing for mining with ATLAS by SPH Engineering

Data storage & processing

Drones
SPH Engineering - expert in drone technologies
Schedule a callContact Us

Use Case

Tramp Metal Identification

Customer
  • Mining company
Objectives
  • Identify tramp metals in stockpiles
Solution
Result
  • Identified areas of magnetic anomalies – possible locations of tramp metals
  • Prevented possible crushers outage
  • Productivity is 7200 sq. m. in 30 mins (single flight)

Processing

After operations are launched, the Mining site requires day-to-day monitoring. Drones make it times faster and cheaper

Tasks

  • Monitor tailing storage facilities (TSF) structures to prevent potential accidents
  • Perform humidity analysis of TSFs to minimize dangerous leakages
  • Conduct stratigraphic horizon modeling

Solutions

UAV system
Drone + UgCS + True Terrain Following (TTF) kit
Sensors
GPR with SkyHub by SPH Engineering
Drones
SPH Engineering - expert in drone technologies
Schedule a callContact Us

Use Case

Humidity Analysis at Tailings Dam

Customer
  • A Mining company, Chile
Objectives
  • Humidity Analysis at Tailings Dam
Solution
Result
  • Highlighted anomalies related to humidity
  • Continuous monitoring of the Tailings Dam Wall for stability
  • Monthly Comparison of humidity levels against the Tailings Dam Wall

Use Case

Stability Comparison within Production Front

Customer
  • A Mining company, Chile
Objectives
  • Stability Comparison within Production Front
Solution
  • DJI M600 + UgCS + RadarTeam SE70
Result
  • Stability analysis on the production front
  • Lithological and structural comparison
  • Complementary Humidity Analysis

Recovery

Drones can help to assess the mining site for reclamation efforts, monitor the progress of the recovery process, and identify any potential issues that need to be addressed

Tasks

  • Control water depth and sediments at TSF and technological ponds to minimize leakages
  • Regular water sampling to comply with environmental requirements
  • Assess vegetation and green biomass after closing the mine

Solutions

UAV system
Drone + UgCS + True Terrain Following (TTF) kit
Sensors
Drone with LiDAR, SkyHub and UgCS
Drone base echosounder for bathymetry for SPH Engineering
Airborne water sampler integrated with a drone, UgCS SkyHub and managed by UgCS

Water sampling

Drones
SPH Engineering - expert in drone technologies

Supported Drones

Schedule a callContact Us

Use Case

Open Pit Mine Bathymetry

Customer
  • Brolgatech/Maxitool, Mining services companies
Objectives
  • Depth profiling
Solution
Result
  • Scanned the pond and gathered all required data on water depth and sediments
  • Minimized the risk to personnel and equipment

A Drone Program Saves Millions of Dollars Annually

  • Drones can perform 10x faster than traditional ground-based operations
  • Surveying of mining areas and hazardous sites significantly reduces risks and may save employees’ lives
  • Increased data accuracy saves 2-3x of data preprocessing efforts. Data is fully compatible with data processing software (Oasis Montaj, Prism 2, and others)
  • Potential savings may result in millions of dollars thanks to reduced operational expenses and downtime elimination