Ore, coal, and port stockyard zone inventory
Large outdoor or semi-open yards need inventory by zone, not only a total pile number, because reclaimers, trucks, conveyors, and blending plans move material continuously.
Confirm the site problem, the Volivue approach, and the expected operating benefit before final selection.
Periodic drone or survey data can be accurate, but it is not always frequent enough for dispatch variance and daily operational control.
Combine fixed V260 scanning points with zone definitions, survey alignment, and exportable volume records.
Teams can review stock by zone, track drawdown, and reconcile yard movement with belt scales or dispatch records when available.
Weather, moving machines, and zone-level demands shape yard scanning
Port terminals and mine stockyards manage ore and coal across long outdoor rows that stackers, reclaimers, and truck fleets reshape around the clock. Rain squalls, sea fog, and dust storms pass through the measurement path, while blending plans require stock by zone and grade rather than one yard total. Equipment safety clearances also limit where anything can be mounted near the rail lines.
Fixed scanning fits yards that need daily or shift-level zone inventory tied to dispatch variance. Periodic drone or total-station surveys remain valuable as audit references, and Volivue treats them as complementary rather than competing. Yards with only one or two slow-moving piles may not justify fixed infrastructure; the review compares survey frequency against the cost of permanent masts honestly.
Survey-aligned masts, weatherproof nodes, and reconciliation-ready records
Scan heads mount on dedicated masts, high-pole lighting towers, or transfer-tower structures outside reclaimer clearance envelopes, each position checked against the yard survey datum so point clouds land in real coordinates. Enclosures are specified for coastal or high-dust exposure, and power and fiber or 4G routing is planned per mast. Large yards roll out zone by zone instead of in one campaign.
The platform aligns scans to the yard coordinate system, computes volume per zone and per row, and publishes OPC, REST, or CSV records that dispatch and ERP systems consume. Where belt scales exist, daily reconciliation compares scanned drawdown against weighed throughput. Trend history keeps a defensible record for stocktake audits and for investigating variance between yard moves and book figures.
What a stockyard project review needs from the site
- Share the yard zone map and survey datum so scan data can align with existing coordinates.
- Identify mast or tower positions with power and network routes that respect reclaimer clearances.
- Specify weather exposure, including coastal salt and dust storms, for enclosure and maintenance planning.
- List reconciliation sources such as belt scales and dispatch records, plus the audit cadence they serve.
What happens to scan quality in rain or fog?
Heavy rain and dense fog attenuate returns and can suspend useful scanning for the duration, which an outdoor project must accept rather than hide. The platform marks affected scans, retains the last clean baseline, and resumes automatically. The review uses local weather patterns to estimate how often this matters at your site.
Does fixed scanning replace our drone surveys?
Usually it complements them. Fixed heads give daily or per-shift zone volume for operations and dispatch variance, while periodic drone or surveyor campaigns remain a good independent check and audit reference. Many yards keep both and align them through the shared survey datum so the two methods can be compared directly.
Six checks decide whether the project needs V260, V7300 Mini, or a multi-scanner package.
Site survey and drawings
Collect shed or bin dimensions, pile height, roof structure, mounting points, vehicle routes, power, network, dust, and safety limits.
Scanner layout design
Define scanner count, field of view, blind zones, mounting height, scan schedule, and maintenance access.
Base model and zones
Build floor reference, boundary polygons, zone naming, empty reference, and reporting units before final volume output.
Algorithm and density workflow
Validate point-cloud cleaning, volume calculation, density assumptions, and estimated mass reporting against site checks.
Integration and handover
Map dashboard fields, CSV/API/OPC outputs, report schedule, alarm rules, user roles, and acceptance checks.
Documentation package
Prepare layout notes, point lists, report field definitions, density assumptions, role settings, acceptance records, and maintenance notes for later scenario pages.
Questions that decide scanner layout, volume confidence, integration, and project scope.
Is this a LiDAR system or a 3D radar system?
Volivue positions the page as a fixed 3D scanning product family. The project may use V260 3D stockpile scanners, V7300 Mini 3D radar scanners, or fixed LiDAR nodes depending on range, dust, mounting, and site layout.
Can one scanner cover a whole warehouse?
Only in compact scenes with clear line of sight. Long coal sheds, domes, aggregate bays, and large yards usually need scanner layout review and may need multiple scanning positions.
Does the system directly measure weight?
No. It measures pile shape and calculates volume. Estimated mass needs density assumptions, sampling data, or a customer density table documented in the project.
How accurate is the volume?
Accuracy depends on survey quality, base model, blind zones, dust, material surface, scanner position, and validation method. Volivue confirms a project target after reviewing the site.
Can it work in dusty coal sheds?
It can be reviewed for dusty sheds, but dust intensity, scan distance, cleaning plan, mounting protection, and data filtering must be checked before committing to coverage.
Can it export data to ERP or MES?
Yes. Scope can include dashboard reports, CSV, Web API, OPC, Modbus TCP, MQTT, database export, or ERP/MES handoff.
What should we send for quotation?
Send shed or bin drawings, photos, pile height, material, dust condition, power and network availability, current inventory method, required reports, and target integration interface.
What documents are usually included for handover?
The handover package can include scanner layout notes, point lists, interface maps, report templates, density assumptions, user roles, acceptance records, and maintenance or cleaning notes by scope.
Send pile geometry, site photos, material, dust level, and target reports.
Share drawings, photos, pile height, material, dust condition, mounting locations, power and network options, update cycle, and desired dashboard or ERP/MES outputs.