Safer Mine Surveying with Drones

Program:  Richard Darling and Mary Darling present Safer Mine Surveying with Drones.

Sponsor: Hexagon Mining

Abstract: 
When you need survey data on a mine site, it may be safer and more cost effective to use a survey drone.   Darling Geomatics will discuss the use of both fixed wing drones and quadcopter drones (also known as unmanned aerial systems (UAS)) for professional surveying, mapping and thermal imaging at mines in the western US.  Examples of topographic maps, orthomosaics, digital terrain maps, structural health assessments, bare earth models in 3D, flythrough videos and more will be shown.  The presentation will include a discussion of the integration of AutoCAD, Pix4D, ESRI and other software as well as examples of drone technologies to make construction monitoring and volumetric tracking more repeatable and accurate. 

Speakers: 

Richard Darling, RLS:
Mr. Darling has 40 years of diversified experience in surveying in the western United States, including being a registered land surveyor in Arizona, Nevada and South Dakota.  He has performed as an expert witness and is highly regarded in his profession.  Mr. Darling is an FAA licensed Part 107 Pilot, flying UAVs (drones) professionally since 2015.  He is the president of Darling Geomatics, an innovative high tech surveying company offering conventional land surveying as well as 3D scanning and modeling and UAV mapping, integrated with professional land surveying.

Mary Darling:
Mary Darling has over 35 years of experience in natural resource consulting.  She grew up in aviation, soloing when she was 15 years old.  Mary is an FAA licensed Part 107 Pilot, flying UAVs (drones) professionally since 2016.  Mary has been the CEO of Darling Geomatics for 20 years.  Mary has her law degree as well as a Master of Science degree in Biology. She has helped Darling Geomatics grow to a global company with projects in Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Canada and Honduras as well as virtually all fifty states here in the USA.