Topographic Survey – Landfill Monitoring & Compliance
50-hectare topographic drone survey for ongoing landfill management. Delivered DTM, high-resolution orthomosaic, elevation spot grid and contours to support Environmental Agency regulatory compliance.
Project Overview
Client Type: Waste Management & Landfill Company
Location: North West UK
Services: Topographic Surveying
Deliverables: Orthomosaic, Point Cloud, DTM, Elevation Spot Grid, Contours, and TIN
Challenges
Need for Regular Compliance Monitoring:
The landfill site required consistent monitoring to ensure the site remained stable and compliant with Environmental Agency and council regulations, especially since it was an active gas collection site.
Legacy Site with Complex Topography:
The site’s history as a landfill meant it had uneven, unpredictable terrain, making traditional surveying methods difficult, time-consuming, and less accurate.
Internal Drone Program Limitations:
The client had been attempting to establish an internal drone program but faced challenges in terms of expertise and resources to handle the volume of data required for such a large site.
Our Approach
Ground Control Network Setup:
We set up a network of ground control points (GCPs) across the site to ensure survey-grade accuracy in the drone data. This provided highly accurate geo-referencing for the topographic survey, ensuring the data could be used for compliance checks, regulatory reporting, and future site development.
Drone Surveying:
Using a drone equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, we captured detailed imagery and elevation data over the 50-hectare site, ensuring thorough coverage of the complex terrain.
Data Processing & Deliverables:
The collected drone data was processed into an orthomosaic, Digital Terrain Model (DTM), and an elevation spot grid, which helped create a Triangular Irregular Network (TIN) for 3D modeling and civils work. DXF contours were also generated, providing essential data for the client’s engineering and regulatory needs.
Independent Data Review:
After processing, we held a call with the client to review the data and compare it against their previous traditional survey results. Our data lined up perfectly with their existing survey data, putting the client at ease and allowing them to better appreciate the utility of drones for their surveys.
Results & Outcomes
Increased Data Accuracy:
The drone survey provided more accurate, high-resolution data, and a broader range of deliverables, offering a clearer representation of the site’s topography than previous methods.
Faster Data Processing & Delivery:
The data was processed quickly, with deliverables provided within days rather than weeks, allowing the client to use the data immediately for monitoring, compliance, and reporting.
Better Compliance Tracking:
The precise topographical data enabled the client to more effectively monitor site conditions, ensuring they remained compliant with environmental regulations and avoided costly penalties.
Cost & Time Savings:
Traditional surveying methods would have required significant manpower and resources. By using drone surveying, the client saved time and money while obtaining the same, if not more, detailed data.