RTK-equipped drones fly automated mapping missions over stockpiles, quarries, and earthworks; DJI Terra then calculates precise cut/fill volumes — replacing slow, risky ground surveys with a repeatable aerial workflow.
DJI Enterprise + DJI TerraMavic 3 Enterprise for smaller, scalable sites; Matrice 350 RTK with Zenmuse P1 (photogrammetry) or Zenmuse L2 (LiDAR) for larger or vegetated sites where laser returns see through canopy.
Nadir-only capture in DJI Pilot 2, flown around 250ft AGL with roughly 70% side and 80% front overlap, with optional terrain-follow for uneven stockpile sites.
Photogrammetric or LiDAR point-cloud processing stitches the flight into an accurate, georeferenced 3D model of the site.
DJI Terra's Volume annotation tool calculates pile volume against a Mean Plane or Lowest Point base-plane method, depending on terrain.
Export as Tiff for 2D reporting or point cloud/LAS for 3D, or feed results into Trimble Business Center, DroneDeploy, or Propeller Aero.
Full-frame 45MP payload for the Matrice 300/350 RTK. Delivers ~3cm horizontal / 5cm vertical accuracy without ground control points and covers up to 3km² per flight, making it well suited to large, open stockpile sites.
View on DJI →
Frame LiDAR plus a 4/3 CMOS RGB camera and high-accuracy IMU, with ~4cm vertical / 5cm horizontal accuracy and up to 2.5km² coverage per flight — ideal where vegetation or irregular surfaces make pure photogrammetry harder.
View on DJI →Accuracy and coverage figures per DJI's published Zenmuse P1 and Zenmuse L2 specifications; real-world results vary by flight conditions and terrain.
Recurring volumetric surveys for ore, coal, and aggregate stockpiles to track inventory and reconcile against production records — far faster and safer than walking or driving a pile.
Cut/fill calculations and progress tracking on grading and earthworks sites, with exports that plug directly into BIM and civil-engineering workflows.
Stockpile surveys share the same RTK fleet, pilots, and DJI Terra processing pipeline as Highstone's inspection programs.
Explore Drone Solutions →Construction and infrastructure clients often pair volumetric surveys with structural inspection flights on the same site visit.
Explore Inspection →Talk to our team about stockpile, quarry, or earthworks volumetric measurement programs.