CASE C08 · OM · 2024
Underground mine, Oman: post-blast stope surveys with a LiDAR drone
Omani firm IFDC used a LiDAR drone to survey stopes after blasting in an underground mine. It avoided entry into unstable ground and reportedly saved $500,000 over 15 jobs with up to 60% less time. The figures come from a manufacturer case study and accuracy depends on conditions.
| Owner | Underground mine (not named) |
| Provider | IFDC |
| Location | Oman |
| Aircraft | Flyability Elios 3 with Surveying Payload |
| Sensors | LiDAR, 4K camera, onboard lighting |
Before
Staff could enter stopes only after ground support; post-blast data waited for meshing, and tripod laser scanners could not cover the full void.
With drones
Drone flights straight after blasting produced point clouds for volume calculation; 15 missions at the site since November 2023.
Outcomes
| Metric | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| inspection time | up to (or over) 60% shorter | Reported |
| cost | US$500,000 saved across 15 projects | Reported |
| accuracy | ±5–10 cm; as low as 0.3% deviation from ground truth in good conditions | Reported |
Caveats & limits
- Manufacturer case study; mine not named; savings combine time, planning and resources and are not itemised.
- The 0.3% accuracy applies only in good conditions; coverage depends on the pilot's flight pattern.
- The 60% figure is given as both 'up to' and 'over'.
Sources
- Saving $500,000 for Post-Blast Inspections at an Underground MineFlyability Full text read
Sources checked: 2026-10-22