Beyond reporting on stockpiles: What else you can measure with drones and Propeller’s volumetric tools?

Different types of volumetric tools on Propeller

When you’re using the Polygon tool (), you can set the volume(s) to one of three different modes:

Smart Volume: The default volume measurement mode. Generally used for stockpiles and ramps.

Volume Compare: Used to track changes between flights, or compare your current terrain against the design.

Reference Level Volume: Used to compare the terrain against a reference level.

Once you’ve done any of the calculations above, they’re more than just numbers on a page. On the Propeller Platform, all volume measurements are instantly visualized in 3D, so anyone can understand what’s been measured and visually track volume changes.

Use cases: Volume Compare

Performing complex volume comparisons against other surveys and design files is fast and straightforward with Propeller.

We’ve only scratched the surface on applications for this tool, so if you come up with something new, let us know!

Here are some of the use cases we’ve come across so far.

Volume calculations for progress claims

Know exactly how much dirt you and your contractors have moved and reconcile quantities accordingly. No more miscounting or underfilling trucks.

In the image below, we’re doing a volume comparison against a previous survey of the same job, with the Dynamic Cut/Fill Map switched on.

The red sections show where contractors have cut away 20,000yd³ of material; the blue shows where they’ve filled in 11,000yd³. We’ve also entered a density figure to calculate the tonnage.

Propeller gives you a clear picture of where dirt is coming from and going to, summed up in the left panel and ready to export for reporting (complete with gridded cut/fill maps).

Learn more about using Propeller as your earthwork software.

Measuring stockpile volume against the base

The most accurate way to measure a stockpile is a volume comparison between the current stockpile and a survey of the base. The example below shows a portion of a stockpile filled between aerial surveys. This is a high-precision measurement of how much material is in the selected section.

Quickly tracking change in stocks

If you have highly active stockpiles being filled and cut simultaneously, you can visualize and measure that change with Propeller.

Here we have a stockpile that was being dumped on and dug off between two surveys. Propeller shows exactly where each was occurring and how much at a glance.

Calculating the total volume of material removed from a pit

Surveying an entire pit used to take so long that the pit would have changed before you finished. With drones and Propeller, it’s as straightforward as measuring a stockpile.

Below we’ve traced around the perimeter of a pit and switched on the Dynamic Cut/Fill Map to see where material has been moving. Overall, around 14,500yd³ has been removed. Hover over any point within the pit and Propeller shows you the change in height at that exact location.

Measuring coastline erosion over time

Erosion is difficult and expensive to measure over time. Paying surveyors to walk lines along a beach every few months is a poor use of resources when you can get higher-resolution, 3D data more regularly with drones and Propeller.

Here we have a beach within the bounds of a harbor development that has been surveyed multiple times.

By switching on the Dynamic Cut/Fill Map, you get a clear picture of where erosion is occurring (red) and where sand has been filled back into the beach (blue). Pair this with the cross-section tool and you have an in-depth view of what’s happening with the coastline.

Learn more about measuring erosion with Propeller.

Checking landfill compaction rate and available airspace

Maximizing airspace is what drives landfill performance. Calculate compaction rates and remaining airspace as often as you need with Propeller, without walking over a single piece of waste.

Learn more about improving landfill performance with Propeller.

Comparing volume to design

Estimating cut and fill at the start of a job is one thing. Getting reliable, accurate progress reports quickly and cost-effectively throughout the project is why so many earthwork teams choose Propeller.

Here you can see a subdivision job comparing the current terrain to the design, with values summed up in the left panel.

We’ve also switched on the Dynamic Cut/Fill Map to show exactly where dirt needs to come from and go to.

Learn more about keeping your construction site close to the design.

Safely measuring tailings dams

Tailings dams are difficult to measure accurately while keeping your surveyors safe. Provided there isn’t too much water on site, drones and Propeller make it straightforward.

Below you can see a comparison between two points in time at a tailings dam. Blue is where filling has occurred and red is where it hasn’t. We’ve also turned on contours to make the change clearer.