The Virtual Surveyor app includes tools that help simplify stockpile calculations and measure them as accurately as possible. You can also generate a user-friendly PDF report or export the results as a .CSV or GIS file. This article provides an overview of all the stockpiles you can create using Virtual Surveyor, and how to apply them.


Surveyors measure stockpile volumes on construction and mining sites as well as quarries, aggregates storage sites, or landfill areas. Drone surveying is a game changer in those situations. It is now quicker, safer, and easier to collect data over large stockpiles. However, it can still be tricky to use drone data to generate stockpile calculation reports if you don't know the proper way to calculate them.


Overview


Clean the Stockpile Terrain

It is important to remove objects that hang over the pile before launching a stockpile calculation; you don't want to include them in the material volume calculation. Conveyors and machines—like wheel loaders—are often over stockpiles. In general, the first step is to remove those objects by using Replace Terrain tool. 


Note! Peak users can speed that process up by using the Remove Objects productivity tool.



Remove a conveyor belt from a stockpile using the Remove Object tool.


You can have a look at our Remove a Conveyor article that describes how to remove a conveyor in more complex environments.


Stockpile Baseline Boundary

You need a boundary that surrounds the stockpile. Use the Boundary tool to draw around the stockpile. There are drawing modes that can help speed up the process (as shown in the illustration below). 


Boundary button in the HOME ribbon.


Drawing a boundary around a stockpile using the Free and Arc drawing modes.

Boundaries drawn over two walled stockpiles


Note! Peak users can activate the Guided Breakline Tool to make it easier and quicker to draw a line around freestanding stockpiles. Sometimes, using the Slope Steepness Lens can help with this tool if it is difficult to identify the bottom of the stockpile.


Using the Guided Breakline drawing mode to draw a boundary around a stockpile while the Slope Steepness lens is enables.


Stockpile Surface Type

Select the appropriate stockpile surface volume depending on the use case with the available surface types to create a stockpile from: 

  • 3D Surface
  • Flat
  • Flat Minimum
  • Timestep


You can choose the type of surface you want to use in the Volumes group of the TOOLS tab when a boundary is selected. 

Selecting a Reference Type for the Stockpile


Freestanding Stockpile

Select 3D Surface, the base surface is triangulated on the vertices of the stockpile boundary; their Z values are very important. It is essential to accurately draw the boundary line around the bottom of the stockpile. 

A Stockpile created using the 3D surface

A transparent view of the 3D Surface stockpile.


Profile view of a freestanding stockpile: You calculate a freestanding stockpile on a slope the same as you would at ground level.

Profile view of a stockpile on a flat surface.

Profile view of a stockpile on a sloped surface.


Walled Stockpile

Stockpile areas are often organized with walled spaces. In some cases, it is not possible to draw a boundary at the bottom of the stockpile. Use a boundary that follows the inside of the walls to create the baseline.


Open wall stockpiles: For an Open wall stockpile, you won't need to manually adjust any of the vertex's elevations, but you should ensure that at least one vertex is placed on the ground in front of the stockpile. Then select the Flat Minimum method to use that surface type under the stockpile at that specific ground level.

Open wall stockpile

Open wall stockpile shown with the transparency lens enabled


Enclosed wall stockpiles: For enclosed wall stockpiles, you'll need to define the flat floor level by setting a specific use case level under the stockpile. To do this, select the Flat method and set the elevation value in the Elevation box.


Enclosed wall stockpile

Enclosed wall stockpile shown with the transparency lens enabled


Cross Sections on Stockpiles: Create cross sections on stockpiles and densify them to analyze elevation changes. 


Breakline Under a Stockpile

When there are changes in elevation or multiple tiers of elevation changes at the ground level under the stockpile, you will need to properly model the ground under the stockpile to give it a better estimated calculation. You can do this by drawing a breakline under the stockpile and triangulating a surface under the stockpile. Then select the surface and create the stockpile. Read more about how to do this in our Calculate a Stockpile Over a Bank article.

Boundary drawn around a stockpile over a bank.

Showing the breakline drawn under the stockpile and the created triangulate surface under the stockpile with the transparency lens enabled


A look at the surface under the stockpile with the orthophoto disabled

The completed stockpile of a bank with the breakline hidden under the stockpile.


Profile view of stockpiles over a bank, gradient, and trench: Any type of stockpile that is over a bank, gradient, or trench requires a manually created surface under the stockpile by drawing a boundary around the stockpile then defining the baseline with breaklines drawn at the changes in the slope under the stockpile.


Stockpile over a bank

Profile view of a stockpile on a bank.


Stockpile over a gradient

Profile view of a stockpile on a multi-tiered bank.


Stockpile over a trench

Profile view of a stockpile over a trench.


Stockpile Over Time

Compare stockpile surveys over time and create an "Empty Site" of stockpiles to compare different stockpile levels with multiple drone data sets. You can show the Timeline menu from the View tab, or by clicking on the calendar in the status bar and choose the Timestep to view the stockpile you are wanting to see at a specific time the drone data was created. This feature is only available when the project contains multiple Timesteps (Peak/Mountain users only). 


Example of a terrain state created as an "Empty Site" where stockpiles have been removed to help visualize and analyze stockpiles.

Another terrain state of a stockpile filled in and contrasted with an "Empty Site".


Material Types for Stockpiles

Select the material for the stockpile type from the Material dropdown menu. You can create and manage materials using the Material Editor. 

Selecting the stockpile material type


Notes! You can change the material after you create the stockpile at any time via the TOOLS tab.


Stockpile Calculation

Launch the stockpile calculation by clicking on the Stockpile button in the Volumes group of the TOOLS tab.

Calculating the stockpile using the Stockpile button in the TOOLS tab on a selected boundary.


Results Visualization Options

Stockpile inventory results are available in the Selection box in the lower left corner. 

Stockpile information found in the Selection box on a selected stockpile. You can recalculate your stockpile from here using the encircling arrows.


Tick the Volume checkbox in the annotation settings found in the TOOLS tab when a stockpile is selected to display the net volume value in the Viewport over the stockpile.


Stockpile TOOLS tab option to show an annotation of the volume over the stockpile


Stockpile volume annotation shown over a stockpile


Export the Results

There are multiple options to export the stockpile calculation results and information from the Export tab, as well as options to create a template of your stockpile layers and materials.

Export stockpile PDF report options in the EXPORT tab of Virtual Surveyor.


You can create a Stockpile PDF report by clicking on the PDF Export button. 

Stockpile report page one

Stockpile report page two


You can also export stockpile values as a spreadsheet (.csv) or GIS file (.shp). Set the appropriate export format in the box and click Export Stockpiles.


Tips and Tricks

  • You can launch multiple stockpile calculations in one click by selecting multiple boundaries before clicking on the Stockpile button.
  • If the stockpiles overlap, use Interpolate Z feature to draw the boundary.
  • It is possible to import a DXF file to define stockpile boundaries. For example, if you have to regularly monitor stockpiles that keep the same bases, you can import a DXF bases file.
  • Use the top-down 2D mode to get a better volume annotations visualization within the Viewport.