WLIA 2025 Annual Conference Appleton

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) have revolutionized the way many counties and municipalities approach stockpile volume estimation, offering a highly efficient, accurate, and cost-effective solution to traditional manual and hazardous survey techniques. Leveraging years of experience using this approach to assist local governments, this presentation explores the end-to-end process of utilizing UAS technology to calculate stockpile volumes, focusing on the technical, operational, and regulatory aspects critical to success.

We will cover the hardware and software requirements, from selecting the appropriate drone and sensors to employing desktop and cloud-based photogrammetry software for precise 3D modeling. The importance of flight planning, including optimal altitude, overlap, flight path design, and camera settings will be highlighted to ensure data accuracy and efficiency. Key considerations for establishing reliable survey control, such as ground control points (GCPs) and real-time kinematics (RTK), will also be discussed.

Additionally, the presentation will touch on the challenges of negotiating airspace regulations, including compliance with FAA requirements, no-fly zones, and ensuring operational safety in the national airspace. Attendees will gain insights into accuracy standards and strategies for mitigating common errors in volume estimation.

Whether you are new to UAS technology or looking to enhance your existing workflows, this session will provide actionable knowledge and best practices for integrating UAS into stockpile volume estimation projects with confidence and precision.