The comparison
| Drone survey | Phone scan (Stockpile) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Commonly NZ$1,000+ per flight and processing | NZ$9.99 a month after a 3-day free trial |
| Turnaround | Days, once processed | Minutes, on site |
| Best for | Large sites with many piles | Single piles, regular counts, walls and bays |
| Piles against walls or under cover | Hard to see from above | Walk the open side; wall and bay modes |
| Training and rules | A pilot, and airspace rules apply | None |
| Accuracy | High with good ground control | Within about 5% with a good capture |
When a drone is the right call
A drone pays off on big sites: dozens of piles, open ground, and volumes measured monthly by a surveyor who can supply ground control. It also suits sites where walking round the piles is unsafe.
When a phone is the right call
A phone wins for one or a few piles, for counts you want weekly instead of monthly, for piles against walls or in bays, and whenever you need the number before you leave site. There is no flight to book and no processing queue.
Stockpile is a phone app, on iPhone first with Android soon after. Walk round the pile once and it measures the real surface: volume, tonnes, contours and a 3D model, with a report you can send before you leave site.
Frequently asked questions
Is a drone more accurate than a phone?
A professionally processed drone survey with ground control is very accurate. A good phone capture is within about 5%, which suits stock management.
How much does a drone stockpile survey cost?
Commonly NZ$1,000 or more for a flight and processing. See stockpile survey cost.
Can I use both?
Yes. Many sites use a drone for monthly or quarterly reconciliations and a phone for the counts in between.
The pile in your pocket.
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