Drones in Quarries and Extractive Industries
Ireland’s quarrying and extractive sector operates across approximately 1,700 known quarry and pit sites, producing the crushed rock, sand, gravel, and aggregates that underpin the country’s construction and infrastructure supply chain. Drone Services Ireland provides specialist drone survey and inspection services to quarry operators, aggregate producers, and extractive industry professionals across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
We understand the operational environment. Quarries are active, hazardous workplaces where heavy machinery, unstable faces, active haul roads, and constantly changing site topography create challenges for traditional survey and inspection methods. Drone technology directly addresses these challenges by removing personnel from danger, capturing comprehensive site data in a fraction of the time, and delivering the accuracy required for production planning, regulatory compliance, and commercial reporting.
Our quarry clients include aggregate producers, ready-mix concrete manufacturers, sand-and-gravel operators, and dimension-stone quarries. Whether you need a one-off stockpile inventory, a recurring quarterly survey programme, or a detailed quarry face inspection, we have the equipment, methodology, and operational experience to deliver.
Stockpile Volumetrics
Accurate stockpile volume measurement is the most common drone application in quarry operations. Knowing exactly what material you have on site is essential for inventory reconciliation, production planning, sales verification, and end-of-year stock counts.
Our drone stockpile volumetric surveys capture hundreds of overlapping aerial photographs that are processed into dense 3D point clouds and digital surface models. Volume is calculated for each individual stockpile against a defined base plane, with results delivered in cubic metres and, where material densities are provided, in estimated tonnage.
We achieve volumetric accuracy within ±2%, verified against surveyed ground control points. This compares favourably with traditional GPS rover methods, which rely on far fewer measurement points and significant interpolation between them. A typical quarry with 10 to 20 stockpiles can be flown in under an hour without disrupting production. On one recent project, we delivered accurate volumetric data within five hours of the initial call.
For recurring programmes, we establish permanent ground control point positions and use consistent flight parameters and processing methodology on each visit. This ensures volume changes between dates reflect real material movement rather than measurement variability.
Site Survey and Topographical Mapping
Quarry operators require accurate topographical data for planning applications, extension submissions, Environmental Impact Assessments, annual environmental reporting, and operational site management. Our drone topographic surveys deliver CAD-ready contour maps, digital terrain models (DTMs), digital surface models (DSMs), cross-sections, and spot elevations across the entire quarry extent.
For active quarries, regular topographic surveys track the site’s progress against the approved extraction plan. This data supports compliance planning, helps identify when extraction limits are approaching, and provides documentation for regulatory inspections. For quarry extension applications, our surveys produce the baseline topographical data required by local authorities and environmental consultants.
All data is delivered in the IRENET95 (ITM) coordinate system with the Malin Head vertical datum (EPSG: 2157), compatible with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, and standard GIS platforms.
LiDAR Survey for Vegetated and Complex Sites
Many quarry sites include overburden areas, buffer zones, access roads, and perimeter land covered in dense vegetation. Standard photogrammetry cannot penetrate this vegetation to map the ground beneath. Our drone LiDAR surveys use the DJI Zenmuse L2 sensor, which emits up to 1,200,000 laser pulses per second and penetrates vegetation canopies to generate bare-earth terrain models.
LiDAR is also the preferred method for surveying dark or uniform-coloured stockpiles, such as coal, peat, or tarmac materials, where photogrammetry can struggle to generate accurate surface models due to a lack of visual texture.
For quarry operations that require both volumetric stockpile data and surrounding terrain mapping, we combine photogrammetry and LiDAR in a single site visit using our DJI Matrice 300 RTK with swappable P1 (photogrammetry) and L1/L2 (LiDAR) payloads.
Quarry Face and Bench Inspection
Quarry face stability is a critical safety concern. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requires that geotechnical appraisals be carried out by a competent person and that faces exceeding 20 metres undergo a formal geotechnical assessment and report. Drone inspection supports this process by capturing high-resolution imagery of quarry faces, benches, and highwalls without requiring anyone to work near the face.
Our drone inspection service captures detailed imagery of rock faces from multiple angles, documenting joint patterns, fracture zones, overhang development, bench geometry, and signs of instability. This imagery supports the geotechnical professional’s assessment and provides a visual record for safety documentation.
For quarries with processing plant and fixed infrastructure, we also provide building and roof inspections covering crusher houses, conveyor structures, offices, and weighbridge buildings.
Cut and Fill Calculations
Earthworks volume calculations are a regular requirement in quarry operations, from tracking extraction volumes against planning limits to measuring overburden removal and restoration fill placement. Our drone surveys produce DSM and DTM data needed to calculate cut-and-fill volumes relative to original ground levels, design surfaces, or previous survey dates.
For progressive restoration projects, regular drone surveys track progress, verify fill volumes placed, and document compliance with the restoration plan attached to the planning permission. This data provides an auditable record for both the quarry operator and the local authority.
Compliance and Environmental Reporting
Quarry operators in Ireland face regulatory requirements from multiple bodies, including local authority planning departments, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). Drone survey data support compliance across all three areas.
Planning compliance requires demonstrating that extraction remains within approved limits, that setback distances are maintained, and that the site is progressing in accordance with the approved development plan. Regular drone surveys provide the topographic and orthomosaic evidence needed to demonstrate compliance during planning review stages.
Environmental monitoring benefits from the comprehensive site coverage provided by drone surveys. Orthomosaic imagery records site conditions at each survey date, while DTM data support drainage analysis, surface water management planning, and dust assessment. For quarries subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirements, drone data provides baseline and monitoring datasets.
Safety documentation is enhanced by the visual record that drone surveys create. Quarry face imagery, site layout documentation, and stockpile configuration records all support the quarry’s safety management system and provide evidence for HSA inspections.
Equipment and Methodology
We deploy enterprise-grade platforms configured for quarry environments. Our standard quarry survey platform is the DJI Matrice 300 RTK with the Zenmuse P1 (45 MP full-frame camera) for photogrammetric surveys, or the Zenmuse L1/L2 (LiDAR) for vegetated and complex terrain. For smaller sites and rapid stockpile checks, we use the DJI Matrice 4 Enterprise or the DJI Mavic 3 Enterprise.
All surveys use RTK/PPK positioning for centimetre-level accuracy, verified against surveyed ground control points. Flight planning is configured in UGCS or DJI Pilot 2 with terrain-following enabled for sites with significant elevation variation, which is common in quarry environments.
We operate under full EASA and IAA authorisation for Specific Category operations and carry €6.5 million public liability insurance.
Industry Context
Ireland’s quarrying sector produces the raw materials essential to the country’s construction, housing, and infrastructure programmes. The Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) represents 74 member companies operating at approximately 300 locations nationwide, producing aggregates, ready-mix concrete, precast concrete, and related products. The Irish Mining and Quarrying Society (IMQS), founded in 1958, serves as a focal point for professionals across the extractive industries, with over 200 members from quarrying, mining, geological surveying, and equipment supply.
The Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) maintains a comprehensive database of active quarries and pits in the Republic of Ireland, and the Health and Safety Authority conducts regular quarry safety inspection campaigns focusing on hazards, including geotechnical stability, machinery safety, and vehicle/pedestrian segregation.
As construction output in Ireland continues to grow and planning requirements become more rigorous, demand for accurate, frequent, and cost-effective site-survey data is increasing. Drone technology meets this demand by delivering survey-grade accuracy with faster turnaround, lower cost, and significantly improved safety compared to traditional ground-based methods.
Coverage
We operate across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with regular quarry survey work concentrated in the Midlands, South-East, and Greater Dublin area, where aggregate production activity is highest. We also service quarry and extractive sites in Cork, Galway, Limerick, Mayo, and the border region.
For recurring survey programmes, we schedule visits on a monthly, quarterly, or annual cycle to match your reporting and operational requirements.
Why Choose Drone Services Ireland
We have been providing commercial drone services across Ireland since 2016, and quarry surveying has been part of our work from the outset. Our experience spans single-stockpile checks through to full-site surveys covering entire quarry operations, with dozens of stockpiles across multiple material types.
Our industry leadership positions (Secretary, Drone Professionals Ireland; former Chair, IPDPA; former Co-Chair, UAAI) and our broader track record across surveying and mapping, LiDAR, thermal imaging, and infrastructure inspection mean we understand how quarry survey data fits into the wider operational, commercial, and regulatory picture.
We deliver data that integrates with your existing workflows, CAD systems, and reporting requirements. We do not just fly a drone and hand over images. We deliver processed, verified, usable outputs that your team can act on immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
This depends on your operational and reporting requirements. Most quarry operators survey monthly or quarterly for stockpile inventory management. Annual surveys are common for planning compliance and environmental reporting. Construction-phase quarry extensions may require more frequent surveys to track extraction and restoration progress.
Drone surveys produce the same deliverables as traditional topographical surveys (contour maps, DTMs, cross-sections, spot levels) and achieve comparable or better accuracy. For planning submissions requiring a licensed surveyor’s sign-off, we have access to licensed surveyors who can certify the final deliverables.
Yes. We operate under EASA Specific Category authorisation with risk assessments tailored to quarry environments. The drone operates at a safe distance from machinery, personnel, and active faces. We coordinate with the quarry manager to ensure the flight plan is compatible with site operations.
With RTK/PPK positioning and properly surveyed ground control points, we achieve volumetric accuracy within ±2% of the true value. Positional accuracy on the surface model is ±5 cm (XYZ).
Yes. Most quarry sites up to 50 hectares can be flown in a single visit, with GCP setup and flight completed within half a day. Processed deliverables are typically returned within 24 to 48 hours, with same-day delivery available for urgent requirements.
Standard deliverables include georeferenced orthomosaic (GeoTIFF), digital terrain model (GeoTIFF/ASCII grid), point cloud (LAS/LAZ), contour drawings (DWG/DXF), and volume reports (PDF). All data is delivered in the IRENET95 (ITM) coordinate system as standard, with other projections available on request.