Mining Measurement Solutions Since 1937

The best method depends on the decision you need to make. Certified truck scales, belt scales, and rail scales are used when weight has to support a sale, royalty, invoice, or compliance record. Volumetric scanning is used when you need faster material flow, load profiles, density insight, or in-motion checks.

Stockpiles usually need UAV mapping, LiDAR, photogrammetry, or mobile scanning. Equipment health needs a different kind of measurement, such as remote inspection and digital twin data. A strong mining measurement plan uses the right tool for each job instead of forcing one tool to answer every question.

A mine needs a legal-for-trade scale when weight affects a commercial transaction. That can include buying, selling, invoicing, royalty reporting, tariff work, custody transfer, or any other record where the measured weight determines value.

In the United States, that usually means an NTEP-certified scale that is installed, placed in service, and calibrated correctly. NTEP certification is not the same as calibration. Certification says the scale model is approved for trade use. Calibration proves the specific scale is reading correctly in the field.

In most mining operations, volumetric scanning works beside the truck scale. The scale gives certified weight for the legal ticket. The scanner gives volume, load shape, carryback, fill level, and material movement data while the truck keeps moving.

This matters because weight alone does not show whether a truck was underloaded, overloaded, off-center, or carrying material back after dumping. Pairing certified weight with volumetric data gives operations, maintenance, and finance a clearer picture of each load.

WingScan uses LiDAR to capture a 3D profile of material as it moves through the measurement point. For trucks and railcars, the loaded profile is compared with a known empty profile. For conveyors, the scanner reads the material profile over the belt and uses belt movement data to track flow.

The scanner measures volume directly. Weight can be connected through certified scales, belt scales, or bulk density data when the operation needs tonnage. This is useful when a mine needs faster throughput, better load control, or a clearer record of what moved through the site.

Accurate stockpile measurement starts with a repeatable 3D capture method. Common options include UAV LiDAR, drone photogrammetry, terrestrial laser scanning, mobile scanning, and SLAM-based mapping for indoor or GPS-denied areas.

The survey creates a point cloud or surface model. Volume is calculated against a defined base surface. Tonnage is then estimated from volume and bulk density. Moisture, compaction, pile shape, and the base surface can all change the final number, so the method needs to be documented.

High-volume mines may measure key stockpiles weekly or even more often when material is moving fast. Many operations measure monthly for financial close. Quarterly or annual surveys may be enough for lower-value piles, slower-moving material, or audit checks.

The important part is consistency. Use the same method, the same control process, and the same reporting format as much as possible. That makes month-to-month changes easier to trust.

Common causes include scale drift, missed calibration, poor base surface definition, changing bulk density, moisture changes, incomplete pile coverage, manual ticket entry, and disconnected systems. A small error can become expensive when it repeats across thousands of tons.

The fix is usually process as much as technology. Use NIST-traceable calibration where weight matters. Keep density assumptions current. Capture repeatable survey data. Connect scale tickets, scanner records, and stockpile reports so teams are not reconciling the operation by hand.

Audit-ready mining measurement creates a clear chain of evidence. The weight ticket, scanner record, stockpile survey, and inspection data should point back to a known method, a known date, and a known calibration standard where calibration applies.

This helps when finance, operations, and outside reviewers need to explain the same number. It also reduces the risk of five teams reporting five different versions of tonnage, inventory, or material movement.

Material measurement shows what moved. Asset measurement shows whether the equipment that moves and processes that material is still in good condition. Both matter because a perfect material report does not help much if a kiln, crusher, conveyor, or ball mill fails without warning.

Remote inspection tools like 4DNA measure wear, deformation, surface change, and structural risk without putting crews into unnecessary exposure. This gives maintenance teams earlier warning and better records for shutdown planning.

Yes. Most sites should start with the measurement problem that is costing the most money or creating the most risk. For some operations, that is certified truck scale weight. For others, it is conveyor flow, stockpile inventory, load optimization, or unplanned downtime.

A phased plan usually works best. Start with the highest-value problem, prove the result, then connect the next measurement layer. The long-term goal is one operating picture instead of separate scale, survey, scanner, and inspection records.