Mine Maps That Update Themselves? How Drone Automation is Making it Possible

The Challenge of Outdated Mine Maps

Mining sites are in a constant state of change – every blast, haul, and dump alters the landscape. Yet traditionally, mapping updates have lagged far behind these dynamic terrain changes. Survey teams might take weeks to produce a new map, during which time the ground has already shifted. This leaves mine managers relying on outdated maps and even “guesswork” based on old data, which can lead to costly mistakes or missed opportunities. Using outdated surveys for planning can mean miscalculating ore volumes, improper blast designs, or overlooking new hazards. In short, slow updates and static maps simply can’t keep up with a modern mine’s pace.

The pain points are clear: mines need maps that reflect current conditions, but traditional methods make frequent updates impractical. Terrain can change daily, and a map that’s even a week old may no longer be accurate. It’s not just an efficiency issue – safety and compliance suffer when pit walls, stockpile heights, or haul road conditions aren’t mapped in real-time. The mining industry has taken note of this gap, and many sites are turning to an obvious solution: drones.

Drone Technology for Continuous Mapping

Drones have revolutionized mine surveying by dramatically speeding up data collection and processing. A single drone flight can scan an entire mine site in hours – something that would take a ground survey crew many days. In fact, using drones for mine surveys is reported to be over 20× faster than traditional ground methods. Faster mapping means you can fly more often. Instead of updating maps monthly or quarterly, mines can now afford to update weekly or even daily, ensuring the data is always current. As Ravi Sahu (CEO of Strayos) explains, if it only takes an hour to fly a site and a couple more to process the imagery, “the site map can be updated every day – if not multiple times a day.”

Frequent drone surveys directly address the problem of slow updates and stale data. Regularly refreshed digital terrain models and orthophotos give mine planners near-real-time insight into pit progress, stockpile growth, or any developing geotechnical issues. Compared to waiting on a quarterly LiDAR scan or risking decisions on last month’s topo map, drones provide a continuous feed of actionable data. High-resolution aerial imagery and photogrammetry can capture fine details of benches, ramps, and walls, all georeferenced to survey grade. The result is a living map of the mine that keeps up with operations – essentially, maps that update themselves on a schedule you set.

Automation: Enabling Self-Updating Maps

The real game-changer is drone automation. It’s one thing to fly drones manually more often; it’s another to have them fly and update maps automatically. This is where “drone-in-a-box” systems and smart software come in. Modern enterprise drones can be housed in automated docking stations (weather-proof “drone garages”) that charge them and deploy missions on a preset schedule. With a setup like the DJI Dock 3, for example, you can schedule missions via the cloud – the drone will launch, execute a survey, land back to recharge, and upload the data, all without an on-site pilot. In essence, the mine map updates itself because the drone is doing its rounds autonomously.

Such drone-in-a-box solutions unlock true 24/7 monitoring. Mines can program daily dawn flights to capture the overnight changes, or trigger on-demand flights after a blast to immediately map new muckpiles. Some systems even allow event-based automation – e.g. using AI to detect when a haul truck fleet has finished a dump, then sending a drone to measure the updated stockpile. By adding autonomy and AI, companies gather data around the clock without human operators, improving productivity and consistency. The aerial data – geo-tagged photos, point clouds, or thermal images – is automatically uploaded to cloud platforms where it’s processed into maps and models that stakeholders can access from anywhere. The entire workflow from flight to finished map can be hands-free. As one industry expert put it, mapping can now be done completely without human intervention in the loop.

Above-Ground Mapping and Volumetrics

For open-pit mines and quarries, the primary use of drones is topographic mapping and volumetrics. Drones carrying RGB cameras can capture hundreds of overlapping images of the site, which software like DJI Terra or Pix4D then stitches into accurate 2D orthomosaics and 3D terrain models. This process, photogrammetry, yields high-resolution maps ideal for mine planning and inventory management. Critically, it’s fast and cost-effective, allowing surveys to be done far more often. Mines can measure stockpiles more frequently at a fraction of the cost of ground surveys, meaning inventory reports that were quarterly can become weekly or daily. Up-to-date volume calculations help avoid over/under production and let management make decisions with current inventory data.

These drone-derived maps are not just pretty pictures – they are precise, georeferenced datasets. Surveyors can extract elevation contours, calculate cut/fill quantities, and overlay design plans to see progress. For example, by comparing a drone-generated surface model to the planned pit design, engineers can instantly see if a bench is over-cut or if a ramp is behind schedule. Tracking excavation progress in this way keeps everyone aligned with reality and the production schedule. Drones also improve safety in this context: instead of having staff climb on stockpiles or pit slopes to survey, the drone can do it remotely, reducing exposure to hazardous areas.

In scenarios where even higher fidelity data is needed – such as mapping a pit with dense vegetation patches or getting sharp detail of highwalls – drones can be equipped with LiDAR sensors. LiDAR (laser scanning) penetrates vegetation and works in low-light or shadow, producing a point cloud of millions of points for an extremely detailed 3D model. A LiDAR-toting drone can capture sharp geometry of muck piles, berms, and geology that might be challenging for photogrammetry (e.g. repetitive textures or poor lighting). The downside used to be cost and complexity, but recent advances like DJI’s integrated drone LiDAR payloads have made it more accessible. Whether via photogrammetry or LiDAR, automated drone mapping ensures that as the mine’s surface changes, the maps keep changing too – a living digital twin of the mine updated on demand.

Underground Mapping Autonomy

Surface mapping is only half the story – what about underground mines or tunnels, where GPS is unavailable and mapping has traditionally been even slower? This is where drone automation has taken another leap forward. New technologies now allow mines to map drifts, stopes, and shafts using autonomous drones with SLAM-based LiDAR systems. SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) enables a drone to navigate and map in GPS-denied environments by using lasers to build a map in real-time. For instance, Emesent’s Hovermap is a LiDAR scanner that can be mounted on a drone (or even handheld or vehicle-mounted) to autonomously explore voids and tunnels. These systems have given us a way to capture up-to-date 3D models of underground workings that were previously impossible to survey frequently (or at all).

The impact is huge for underground mine managers. An autonomous drone can be sent beyond line of sight into a stope right after a blast to scan the newly created void, all while the area is too hazardous for personnel. The resulting point cloud shows exactly the shape of the stope, allowing overbreak/underbreak calculations and better reconciliation of extracted ore. Repeating such scans regularly means geotechs can monitor convergence or deformation over time, spotting areas of concern before they become serious problems. Importantly, this is achieved without exposing surveyors to danger – removing humans from unstable stopes or gas-filled tunnels and letting the drone do the risky work. As Emesents mining demonstration showed, a drone can navigate narrow passages fully autonomously and create high-fidelity 3D maps. The data is far richer and more accurate than the old method of installing a few cavity monitoring points or just estimating from paper plans. In one case, using such autonomous 3D mapping allowed a mining company to confidently evaluate an old mine’s remaining reserves, whereas before they’d have been “relying on guesswork from old 2D maps”.

What this means is that underground mines can finally have “live” maps too. The tunnel network and void spaces can be surveyed monthly, weekly, or after major events, providing an updated mine model for planning and safety. When paired with automation features (like Hovermap’s “Tap-to-Fly” and collision avoidance), even complex vertical shafts or orepasses can be mapped remotely. The ability to frequently map these hidden areas greatly improves situational awareness underground – a key for safety and efficient production.

Recommended Drone Solutions for Self-Updating Mine Maps

Implementing a self-updating mapping system requires the right combination of hardware and software. Below we outline several recommended drone solutions (packages) tailored to mining needs, from basic mapping to advanced automation. Each of these packages addresses the pain points of outdated maps and slow updates, in a way suited to different operational requirements and budgets:

• Entry Mining Package – Basic Mapping & Volumetrics: This kit is designed to get mines started with automated aerial mapping. It includes a DJI Matrice 4D drone (an IP55-rated industrial drone) with the DJI RC Plus Enterprise controller, four high-capacity batteries, and an AVSS parachute for safety. A 1-year license of DJI Terra (photogrammetry software) is also provided for processing maps from the drone’s 20 MP camera imagery. This package enables regular 2D orthomosaic mapping and stockpile volumetrics with ease. Mine engineers can fly the route (automatically or with a pilot), and within hours generate an updated map and volume report – addressing the issue of outdated stockpile measurements by making surveys fast and routine.

• Advanced Mining Package – LiDAR & Terrain Mapping: For operations that need higher accuracy and the ability to map in more challenging conditions, the advanced package adds a LiDAR capability. It features the flagship DJI Matrice 400 drone (up to 59 minutes flight time, with 6 kg payload capacity) paired with the DJI Zenmuse L2 LiDAR sensor. The Matrice 400’s enhanced endurance and payload allow carrying the L2 (which integrates a LiDAR scanner and 4/3” RGB camera) to capture dense 3D point clouds of the terrain. Also included are RTK base station equipment (D-RTK 3 and tripod) for centimeter-level georeferencing, and a parachute recovery system for safety on the Matrice. This package is ideal for detailed topographic surveys, pit wall mapping, and any scenario requiring survey-grade 3D data. The LiDAR can penetrate minor vegetation and deliver reliable models even in low-light or dust, ensuring that even subtle terrain changes are recorded in the map updates.

• Underground & Confined Site Package – Mobile SLAM Mapping: When mapping needs to go underground or into GPS-denied areas, this package provides a cutting-edge solution. It centers around the Emesent Hovermap ST autonomy kit – a smart LiDAR scanner that mounts on a drone to enable autonomous SLAM-based mapping in tunnels and stopes. Included is a Hovermap ST with a 3-year autonomy software license (for features like collision avoidance and automated exploration), plus Emesent’s Aura software module for convergence monitoring and point cloud processing. For deployment, the package pairs Hovermap with a sturdy drone platform (e.g. a DJI Matrice 350 RTK with custom mounting cage and extra batteries, or an equivalent robust drone) to carry it into inaccessible areas. The kit even comes with a vehicle mount and a stainless-steel protective cage so the Hovermap can be used in multiple modes – drone-mounted, handheld, or even attached to machinery. This underground mapping package empowers mine surveyors to regularly scan drifts, stopes, raises, and orepasses in 3D without GPS. The resulting point clouds (which can achieve survey-grade accuracy) let you detect rock mass changes, measure void volumes, and ensure up-to-date maps of tunnels that were previously mapped only rarely. Most importantly, it keeps personnel out of harm’s way while the drone navigates confined, hazardous spaces on its own.

• “Drone-in-a-Box” Package – Automated Volume Monitoring on Demand: For operations seeking fully automated, hands-off mapping, a drone-in-a-box solution is available. This package includes the DJI Dock 3 station paired with a DJI Matrice 4D series drone (the same robust drone from the Entry package, but configured for dock integration). The Dock 3 is a weatherproof charging station that allows the drone to launch on pre-scheduled missions and return to recharge, all without human intervention. Along with the dock and drone, the package provides a parachute (for safety failsafe) and a DJI FlightHub 2 cloud platform subscription for mission planning and data management. Use case: a mine can schedule the drone to automatically fly every morning at 6 AM to survey all active pits and stockpiles. The drone collects aerial imagery (or thermal data, if equipped with a thermal camera) and lands back in the dock, and the images are automatically uploaded and processed into maps via the cloud. By the time staff arrive, they have fresh maps and volume calculations in their dashboard. This setup essentially delivers near-real-time situational awareness, with minimal labor – perfect for large open-pit mines or quarries that want to continuously monitor production, track environmental changes, or quickly respond to events (like slope failures or intrusions) with on-demand drone eyes in the sky.

• Non-DJI Alternatives (North America-Made Options): For mine operators who require NDAA-compliant or non-Chinese drone hardware, there are alternative packages offering similar capabilities. One option is a Draganfly drone bundle – for example, using the Draganfly Commander 3XL UAV platform coupled with a GreenValley LiAir X3C-H LiDAR sensor and a high-resolution Sony 24 MP mapping camera. This combo, along with Pix4D mapping software, can accomplish the same mapping and volumetric tasks (point clouds and orthos) on a domestically manufactured drone. Another alternative is built around an Inspired Flight IF800 quadcopter (a U.S.-made medium-lift drone with ~54 min flight endurance) carrying the GreenValley LiDAR and a Sentera 65R mapping camera. These systems deliver comprehensive 3D mapping and imaging results comparable to the DJI-based packages, but on platforms that meet specific regulatory or procurement requirements. They may involve different flight control software or processing workflows (e.g. using Pix4D or other tools instead of DJI Terra), and typically come with support/training to get your team up to speed. Candrone offers guidance to ensure that even with these non-DJI setups, you achieve the end goal: automated, up-to-date mine maps and models, with all data owned and secured as per your needs.

Conclusion

In the past, keeping mine maps current was a perpetual struggle – like trying to hit a moving target with slow, expensive tools. Drone automation has fundamentally changed that narrative. By enabling rapid, frequent, and even fully autonomous surveys, drones ensure that a mine’s maps can finally keep pace with its reality on the ground. The benefits ripple across the operation: engineers can base decisions on today’s data (not last quarter’s), mine planners can react to changes in near real-time, and safety personnel gain an always-updated view of site conditions. From open pits to underground drifts, the concept of “maps that update themselves” is no longer science fiction but a practical reality powered by drones, smart sensors, and automation software.

For Principal Technology Officers and Mine Managers, the message is clear. Embracing these drone solutions means an end to the era of outdated mine plans. Instead of playing catch-up with the terrain, your digital maps become a live reflection of the mine – one that you can trust for accurate production tracking, risk management, and planning optimizations. Moreover, by automating mapping tasks, you free up your team’s time to focus on analysis rather than data collection, all while keeping people out of harm’s way.

Mining has always been about extracting value from the earth; now, with autonomous drones, we can also continuously extract value from data about the earth. Up-to-date maps are just the beginning. As you layer in analytics (AI-driven insights from aerial data) and integrate these live maps into your mine planning systems, you build a smarter, safer, and more efficient operation. Drone automation is making self-updating mine maps possible – and those who leverage it will gain a decisive edge in managing the complex, ever-changing environment of a mine site.