Applications
Mining

Upgrade Your Mining Drone Operations. More Control, More Precision, More Compatibility for Precise Data Collection

Transform your mining operations with drone solutions. UgCS offers advanced terrain following, multi-drone control, and offline mission planning-ideal for the mining industry, even in remote mining environments.
Faster, safer, and more cost-effective applications for drones in mining. Exploration, mapping, surveying, and environmental monitoring.
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UgCS for Mining - Plan, Fly, Repeat

Plan complex mining missions offline, follow terrain safely, and standardize data capture across crews. UgCS gives you DEM/DSM-aware routes, vertical scans, corridor tools, and multi-drone orchestration.

Custom Elevation Data & Terrain Awareness

Import custom DEM/DSM data to match the actual current topography of your mine site, not outdated satellite maps. Switch between AGL (Above Ground Level) for true terrain following on steep slopes and AMSL (Above Mean Sea Level) for absolute altitude reference to ensure safe separation and consistent data resolution.

Automated Inspection Patterns

Deploy specialized flight algorithms for mining assets. Use the Vertical Scan tool to automate high wall inspections for stability monitoring. Apply Corridor Mapping for efficient haul road assessment and Area Scan for general site surveys.
Vertical Inspection Tool »»»

LiDAR Mission Planning

Execute precise LiDAR surveys to penetrate vegetation and reveal geological structures. UgCS generates automated flight paths with required IMU calibration loops and corner maneuvers to ensure data integrity for geological mapping and fault line detection.
LiDAR Mission Planning »»»

Photogrammetry & Volumetrics

Capture millimeter-level detail for stockpile volume calculations and orthomosaics. Use Grid and Double-Grid patterns to ensure optimal overlap and maintain constant Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) even over uneven pit terrain.
Photogrammetry Tool »»»

Integrated Sensor Kits for Mining

Equip your drone with specialized sensors to see what cameras miss. Detect buried ferrous objects, map subsurface voids, measure bathymetry, and collect environmental samples without endangering personnel.

Magnetometer Kits for Tramp Metal & Exploration

Locate ore bodies, abandoned mines, and unexploded ordnance using magnetic field detection. Identify tramp metal in stockpiles before it damages crushers or conveyor systems.
Magnetometer Integrated Systems

Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Kits

Map subsurface stratigraphy and detect underground voids or cavities. Monitor humidity levels inside tailings dam walls to identify instability and prevent liquefaction failures.
GPR Integrated Systems

LiDAR Sensors for Geology & Haul Roads

Penetrate vegetation to reveal geological fault lines and rock outcrops that photogrammetry misses. Generate centimeter-accurate elevation models for haul road planning and volume analysis.
LiDAR Solutions

Echo Sounders for Pit Ponds & Tailings

Map water depth and sediment thickness in flooded open pits and tailings ponds. Conduct bathymetric surveys to track sediment accumulation without placing crews on hazardous water bodies.
Echo Sounders Integrated Systems

Water Sampling for Compliance

Lower collection vessels into toxic retention ponds or flooded pits using a drone-mounted winch system. Retrieve liquid samples for environmental compliance analysis without human exposure to contaminants.

SkyHub Onboard Computer

The central hub that integrates diverse sensors with your drone. SkyHub manages power, data logging, and terrain following (via radar altimeter) to ensure precise geophysical data collection.
SkyHub Onboard Computer

Our Drone Solutions for Mining: Use Cases & Applications

From early-stage prospecting to site reclamation, UgCS provides the mission planning tools required to capture engineering-grade data in dangerous environments.

Mining Exploration & Resource Mapping (Magnetometer/GPR)

Locate ore bodies and define geological structures before ground crews ever enter the site. Drones equipped with magnetometers detect magnetic anomalies associated with iron, nickel, and other deposits.
  • UgCS Advantage: Enables precise low-altitude flights with True Terrain Following, keeping sensors at a constant height to capture valid geophysical data.

Prospecting & Surveying for Mining (LiDAR & Photogrammetry)

Rapidly map vast concessions to identify topography and existing infrastructure. LiDAR penetrates vegetation to reveal ground level, while photogrammetry provides high-resolution orthomosaics. Drones survey 4-10 times more area than ground crews in the same timeframe.
  • UgCS Advantage: Supports large-scale survey planning of up to 10 square kilometers in a single mission, utilizing offline maps for remote areas.

Geothermal Exploration of Blind Systems (UAV Magnetics & GPR)

Detect subtle subsurface structures and fluid pathways that indicate blind geothermal systems. Researchers at the University of Nevada used drone magnetometry to scan areas 4-10 times larger than traditional methods allowed, successfully mapping fluid pathways.
  • UgCS Advantage: Allows for the programming of tight, systematic grid patterns necessary to detect faint magnetic gradients.

Highwall & Slope Stability Monitoring (Vertical Scans)

Open-pit walls pose constant collapse risks. Regular inspections are critical but dangerous for rope access teams. Drone inspections detect millimeter-level cracking and structural shifts before failure occurs.
  • UgCS Advantage: The Vertical Scan tool automates flight paths at a constant distance from the wall face, ensuring consistent Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) for accurate comparison over time.

Stockpile Volume Calculation & Reconciliation (LiDAR/Photogrammetry)

Accurate inventory data is essential for financial reporting and blending operations. Drone surveys calculate tonnage with high precision, replacing slow manual estimates. BHP delivers reports from takeoff to final numbers in under one hour.
  • UgCS Advantage: Capable of surveying massive stockpile areas (1.2 km x 1 km) in a single battery flight using optimized Double Grid patterns to capture vertical sides.

Haul Road Optimization & Condition Assessment

Poor road conditions increase fuel consumption and damage heavy equipment. Regular drone monitoring identifies erosion, potholes, and geometric inefficiencies, allowing for proactive maintenance.
  • UgCS Advantage: The Corridor Mapping tool automates flight planning for long, linear road networks, supporting battery swaps for extended kilometers.

Processing-Plant Inspection: Crushers, Conveyors & Mills (RGB/Thermal)

Prevent unplanned downtime by inspecting hard-to-reach infrastructure. Thermal cameras detect overheating bearings on conveyors, while high-resolution RGB cameras inspect structural integrity. Identifying tramp metal in feed piles prevents damage to crushers.
  • UgCS Advantage: Plan complex 3D inspection routes around vertical structures and plant infrastructure to capture data safely from optimal angles.

Tailings-Dam Monitoring: Moisture, Seepage & Structural Stability

Tailings failures are catastrophic. Visual inspections alone cannot detect internal moisture. Drones equipped with Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and thermal sensors map humidity levels inside the dam wall to identify seepage and instability early.
  • UgCS Advantage: Facilitates non-invasive GPR surveys over unstable tailings surfaces where personnel cannot walk, using radar altimeters for precise height control.

Tramp Metal & Lost GET Detection in Stockpiles & Blast Holes

Tramp metal (such as lost excavator teeth) can destroy crushers and halt production. Drones with magnetometers fly low over stockpiles to detect ferrous objects before material enters the processing circuit.
  • UgCS Advantage: Manages the sensitive low-altitude flight required to distinguish small metal targets from background noise using terrain-following capabilities.

Open-Pit Pond Bathymetry (Drone Echo Sounders)

Managing water balance requires knowing sediment volume and water depth in pit lakes. Using a drone with an echo sounder allows for bathymetric mapping without sending a boat crew onto hazardous or toxic water.
  • UgCS Advantage: Integrates via SkyHub to maintain precise altitude above the water surface while logging depth data synchronized with GPS coordinates.

Recovery & Reclamation Monitoring (Vegetation, Water, Sediment)

Demonstrate environmental compliance during closure. Multispectral sensors track vegetation health on rehabilitated land, while drone-mounted samplers collect water from pit lakes for lab analysis.
  • UgCS Advantage: Ensures monitoring missions are repeatable with exact flight paths year after year, building a defensible dataset for regulatory bodies.

Supported Drones for Mining

DJI
Matrice 400
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
DJI
M350 RTK
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
DJI
M300 RTK
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
DJI
Mavic 3 Enterprise Series
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Autel
EVO Max 4T/4N
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Freefly
Astro
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Inspired Flight
IF1200
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Inspired Flight
IF750
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Acecore
Zoe
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Acecore
Noa
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Autel
EVO II series
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
Inspired Flight
IF1200A
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
..and others
More supported models
Blue UAS supported drones by UgCS mission planning and flight control desktop software
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Customer Success Stories

Mining Companies Using UgCS

High-Wall Scanning – Open-Pit Mining Client
Result: Cut manual flight time from days to hours.
View Project
Tramp Metal Identification
Identified areas of magnetic anomalies – possible locations of tramp metals Prevented possible crushers outage Productivity is 7200 sq. m. in 30 mins (single flight)
View Project
Tailing Dam Stability Monitoring – Chilean Mining Company
Result: Prevent potential hazards by continuous monitoring.
View Project
Geothermal Exploration – Nevada University
Result: Covered 4-10X larger areas than traditional methods.
View Project

Frequently Asked Questions

Your Questions About Mining Drone Solutions

What is a drone mining survey?

A drone mining survey uses UAVs equipped with advanced sensors like high-resolution cameras, LiDAR, or magnetometers. They produce accurate 3D models and digital elevation models, aiding operational efficiency.

Why Drones are Becoming the New Industry Standard?

Drones offer operational cost savings, improved safety by eliminating hazardous conditions, and provide accurate, real-time data.

How Drones Impact Mining?

Drones enhance safety, reduce labor costs, optimize inventory management, and improve operational efficiency with precise data collection.

How do UAVs help in mineral exploration?

UAVs gather real-time data using advanced sensors to map magnetic fields, terrain, and geology, enabling safer and faster exploration.

How UAV Mining Improves Stockpile Management?

UAVs create accurate measurements of stockpiles through high-resolution 3D models, improving inventory management and reducing blind spots.

How Does UAV Mining Enhance Exploration?

Drones quickly generate accurate site models and maps, streamline mining exploration, and ensure efficient mining operations by identifying new resources and assessing site conditions.
Learn more about how sensor equipped drones can solve everyday mining tasks »»»

Make the Switch Today

Stop being limited by your current drone solutions.
Get full control of your mining drone operations.
Fly smarter, faster, and safer with UgCS.

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