Mining Drones: Elios 2 Enables Photogrammetric Mapping

Drones have become a common tool in the mining industry for mapping open-pit mines, but exploring underground areas remains a significant challenge. The Elios 2, designed specifically for confined spaces, offers a cutting-edge solution by bringing photogrammetry into dark and GPS-denied environments deep underground.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Introduction

For three days, Flyability’s Elios 2 was tested at Barrick Gold Corporation’s Golden Sunlight Mine in Whitehall, Montana. This compact, durable drone is designed for inspecting tight spaces and has proven its worth in challenging underground conditions.

UAS Inc., led by Matt Mackinnon, an expert in underground inspections, worked closely with Flyability to demonstrate the Elios 2's capabilities. His goal was to show how the drone could enhance safety and provide critical visual data for mining operations.

The results were impressive. “The Elios 2 checks nearly every box for what we need to conduct safe and effective underground inspections,” said Mackinnon.

Using data collected by the Elios 2, the team created a 3D photogrammetric model of a stope, revealing key details about its condition. This information helps mining personnel make informed decisions about stability, identify loose material, and locate remaining ore and geotechnical features.

Customer Needs

After blasting, large rocks can hang inside a stope, posing a serious risk if they fall. Traditional methods like lowering a camera or using a pole offer limited access and do not provide a full view of the area.

This lack of visibility can endanger miners and damage expensive equipment, such as muckers, which cost over a million dollars each. It also leads to potential losses due to missed ore or contamination from waste material.

Additionally, when an ore pass becomes clogged, determining the cause is crucial. Visual data is essential to ensure safety, protect equipment, and prevent ore loss.

Barrick Gold needed detailed visual data to create a 3D map of a stope, helping them assess risks and make better operational decisions.

[Related read: What is a LiDAR drone?]

High-quality data from the Elios 2 allowed the team to detect overbreak, fractures, and other geological features, improving their understanding of potential collapse points.

Solution

The Elios 2 was used to inspect multiple stopes at the Golden Sunlight Mine. Ryan Turner, a geotechnical engineer at Barrick, worked alongside Matt Mackinnon and the Flyability team to conduct these missions.

“The Elios 2 is easy to use, safe, and protected by a cage that prevents damage to people, objects, or itself,” said Turner.

Results

The Elios 2 successfully navigated both large spaces (up to 10 x 30 x 100 meters) and narrow shafts with less than 3 meters in diameter. Its lighting system provided adequate illumination, and the protective cage prevented damage during collisions with wires and support structures.

The drone captured more accurate and comprehensive data than previous methods. It revealed mixed material on the stope floor and provided clear images of geological features, allowing Turner to conduct detailed stability analyses.

“The imagery looked really good,” he noted. “It gave us a clear view of where material was being released.”

The Elios 2 also helped identify the position of large boulders and the condition of loose material above mucker operating areas, aiding in risk assessments.

Turner highlighted the ease of flying the Elios 2, even for those with no prior experience. Two Barrick employees, a geologist and a mucker operator, flew the drone successfully after minimal training.

“It was easy to fly and very stable,” he said. “This is rare in our industry, where most drones crash during inspections.”

Over three days, five Elios 2 drones were flown without any incidents, demonstrating its reliability in harsh underground conditions.

“You can hand this drone to someone who’s never used it, and they’ll be successful,” Turner added.

Photogrammetric Mapping – In Testing and Development

In addition to live data, the Elios 2 collected enough information from four flights to create a 3D photogrammetric model of a stope using Pix4D Mapper. These models offer a snapshot of the site’s condition at a specific moment, showing the full volume of the excavation.

Download Pix4D photogrammetric model project

Geotechnical engineers use these models to compare before and after conditions, track rock movement, and assess stability. They can click on specific points to view original images and analyze geological features in detail.

Download Pix4D photogrammetric model project

Conclusion

The Elios 2 enables Barrick Gold and UAS Inc. to safely access previously unreachable areas of mines, providing crucial data for decision-making. The 3D photogrammetric models created from Elios 2 data help optimize ore control, reduce risks, and protect equipment and personnel.

This technology can save millions in lost production, ore dilution, and equipment damage, making it a game-changer in the mining industry.

This article is part of a series on photogrammetry:

• Why use photogrammetry to build 3D models of indoor spaces?
• Mining Drones: Elios 2 Creates Photogrammetric Models
• Building 3D Models with Elios 2: How to Acquire Appropriate Data for Photogrammetry
• Building 3D Models with Elios 2: Processing Data with Photogrammetry Software
• Elios 2 Tested for Indoor Stockpile Volumetry, Produces 3D Maps Accurate to Within 1 Centimeter

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