The software even allows the user to eliminate equipment from the scene – such as conveyors – to get a precise stockpile calculation. The user then simply delineates a pile of sand, gravel, lumber or other material on screen with the mouse. To do this, the site operator collects drone imagery and then converts the data into a 3D surface model in the software. The software presents an interactive onscreen environment with drone orthophotos, digital surface models (DSMs), and/or Lidar point clouds where users generate CAD models, create cut-and-fill maps and calculate volume reports.Įfficient volume calculation has been a Virtual Surveyor feature for several years. Virtual Surveyor is a powerful surveying software that bridges the gap between drone photogrammetric processing applications and engineering design packages, enabling surveyors to derive topographic information from drone data needed by engineers for construction, mining, and excavation projects. “People just can’t believe that they can do it themselves.”įor more articles from the conference, click here.“This new capability lets site operators easily report the tonnage and value of stockpile materials, which is the information organizations really need,” said Op ‘t Eyndt. “Historically, it’s been something that just two or three people in the company can do or they have to go pay an outside service to do it,” he said. Right now, though, Boardman’s biggest challenge is getting people to believe in the simplicity of the product. In future years, Boardman hopes to integrate drone technology to the stockpile reporting system, as well. We are supporting customers in nine countries, but we’re only getting the word out and focusing on the U.S.” “Since there’s no inventory, they just download the app in the app store, which is already global. “Right now we’re marketing in the U.S., but people are finding us all over the world,” Boardman said. (If calculations are done in feet and cu. The company has been solely marketing in the United States, but people around the world have been finding the app and using it at their sites. If the loose density of the aggregate in the stockpile is 90 lb. “We’ll eventually support a Droid, but we are going to grow as much as we can with the iPhone.” “Going on one dedicated platform allows us to move a lot faster and give customers good solutions,” Boardman said. The app is only compatible with iPhones, but Boardman plans to expand Stockpiles as he progresses with the product. Measuring the stockpile is easy, Boardman said, and the measurements are within 2 to 4 percent of LIDAR data collections. There are, however, some steps that must be taken before stockpiles are placed on the job site. For the sake of efficiency, most contractors will elect to do this. In addition, the app has the ability to reveal the history of the stockpile, which includes the movement of the pile on the site, the change in size of the pile and photos of the pile. TxDOT’s Standard Specifications allow the contractor to stockpile aggregate to be used on the project at locations approved by the engineer. Users can view videos of the pile being recorded, as well as an overlay of the site. Can a drone take measurements Drones can easily be used to measure height. The site also provides full reports of the stockpile, including cubic yards, tonnage, tonnage conversion and collective time. How do you calculate pile of gravel Calculating the cubic yards in a pile of dirt first requires the homeowner to figure the size of the cone using this formula: V 1/3 R² H. Based on data, it takes about two minutes, 13 seconds to measure small piles (0 to 1,000 tons) and about seven minutes, 11 seconds to measure large piles (piles 30,000-plus tons).Īfter completing one trip around the pile, users stop recording and sync the app with, where they can view information regarding the pile, including cubic yards and tonnage. Stockpile size doesn’t matter, Boardman said. Then they record the stockpile while walking the perimeter of it. In order for the app to work, users must place two solid orange traffic cones 25 ft. Using its 3D computer vision technology, Boardman designed an iPhone application called Stockpiles, which allows users to determine stockpile volume data. “Tracking inventory is a hard problem and an inexact science,” said David Boardman, CEO of URC Ventures, at a session during the 2014 Trimble Dimensions User Conference.Īfter signing an agreement in August 2012 with Knife River Corp., a company with hundreds of sites across nine states, URC Ventures decided to create a solution for accurately measuring stockpiles.īoardman wanted to create an outlet for measuring stockpiles that required minimal training, was completely automated, and met accuracy and consistency requirements of the company. Measuring stockpiles can be a complicated process, from accurately measuring the piles to recording and storing data.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |