Machinery
In addition to surveying , the likelihood drones are used in other avenues of mining operations is a clear possibility .
“ The possibilities for the application of drones in mining are seemingly endless with new uses coming to light every week and more widespread utilization being reported across the industry ,” said Nigel Court , mining program and project manager for Accenture .
“ We see potential benefits across the value chain , from safety and security ( search & rescue , monitoring / providing information from dangerous and difficult locations ) to exploration and development ( such as aerial photography and remote sensing ) and
View of mine from drone productivity ( stockpile mapping , mine mapping & reconciliation and time lapse photography ) just to name a few .
“ Leading mining businesses are rapidly making these kinds of capabilities available through their use and customization of drones . Turning these ideas into results of course requires coordinated planning across the value chain and focused execution . While we are likely on the front side of the hype cycle , we believe these capabilities will continue to mature and will transform the industry .”
Court went on to provide a prime example of time savings when using drones for mining .
“ Imagine there was an issue on the rail line in the Pilbara , from the time the problem is identified to getting the worker out there to see the cause of the issue through to getting someone out there to solve it , it could be three hours or more , whereas if a drone is flown over it can reach the site in less than half an hour , take high resolution photos that can be used to identify the problem , after which someone can be sent out to fix out the problem ,” he said .
“ It also has the ability to take high resolution , time lapse pictures of a
18 S eptember 2014