Artech’drone and Drones Imaging recently carried out, in the Marne (department 51), one topographic survey project on a 100ha disused quarry. Topographic survey carried out by aerial photogrammetry and necessary to calculate volumes of cuttings and embankments to be considered for the restoration of the site (cuttings depollution and terrain leveling).

The team in the field included two remote pilots, a surveyor and all the managers responsible for bringing the site back into compliance.

The project took place over one day using two multirotor drones to capture aerial images at a 50m height, thus obtaining a ground sample distance of 1cm. From the images collected, a 3D Digital Surface Model (DSM) was built by photogrammetry and from which: 4 million m3 of accumulated materials (to be backfilled and cleared) were calculated. These results allow managers to precisely quantify the extent of depollution work and to immediately commit the appropriate resources.

From a technical and economic point of view, this successful operation demonstrates the technical added value of the drone and image processing on large-scale missions.