IBM Drone Survey SOP in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu |under sub rule (5) of rule 34A of

The Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for conducting drone surveys in mining areas, as mandated under Rule 34A of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2017. Here's a summary of the key components:

IBM Drone Survey SOP Highlights

1. Purpose and Scope

• To ensure accurate and timely submission of digital aerial images of mining areas.

• Applies to all lessees, licensees, and permit holders under MCDR.

2. Drone Agency Registration

• Only registered drone service providers with necessary DGCA approvals can conduct surveys.

• Agencies must submit credentials to IBM for verification.

3. Survey Requirements

• Drone surveys must be conducted annually or as directed by IBM.

• Surveys should cover the entire lease area, including pits, dumps, stockyards, and infrastructure.

4. Technical Specifications

• Minimum resolution: 5 cm/pixel.

• GPS-enabled drones with RTK/PPK capabilities preferred.

• Data must be geo-referenced and orthorectified.

5. Data Submission

• Digital aerial images and processed outputs (orthomosaic, DEM, 3D models) must be submitted to IBM.

• Submission format: GeoTIFF, shapefiles, and PDF reports.

6. Compliance and Penalties

• Non-compliance may lead to penalties or suspension of mining operations.

• IBM may conduct surprise inspections or audits.

Pre‑flight checklist

• Agency approvals: Confirm DGCA permissions and IBM registration are valid.

• Lease documents: Obtain lease boundary shapefile and approved mine plan from the lessee.

• Stakeholder clearances: Inform mine manager and local authorities; secure no‑fly clearances if needed.

• Equipment check: Verify drone airframe, RTK/PPK GNSS, IMU, calibrated camera, batteries, and ground control hardware.

• Control points: Plan ground control point (GCP) layout covering edges and internal features of the lease; mark and record GCP coordinates with survey‑grade GNSS.

Survey planning and capture

• Resolution and overlap: Target minimum ground sample distance 5 cm/pixel; plan forward overlap 80% and side overlap 60% for photogrammetry.

• Flight geometry: Use parallel flight lines for orthomosaic and cross strips or oblique passes for 3D models and faces.

• RTK/PPK usage: Use RTK/PPK GNSS to improve absolute positioning and reduce GCP dependency.

• Coverage: Capture entire lease including pits, benches, dumps, stockyards, infrastructure, haul roads, and safety bunds.

• Metadata logging: Record mission ID, date/time (UTC), altitude, sensor focal length, platform height, weather, and operator name.

Processing and quality assurance

• Primary outputs: Produce orthomosaic GeoTIFF, DEM/DSM, and 3D point cloud or mesh; generate contour lines as required.

• Vector deliverables: Produce lease boundary, pit outlines, dumps, roads, built‑up areas, and other thematic shapefiles in the prescribed coordinate system.

• Accuracy checks: Validate horizontal and vertical accuracy against independent checkpoints; report RMSE values for X/Y and Z.

• Orthorectification: Ensure images are orthorectified using accurate DEM and camera calibration parameters.

• Report: Create a PDF survey report summarizing methodology, equipment, settings, GCPs, accuracy results, and processing workflow.

IBM Drone Survey SOP in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu.under sub rule (5) of rule 34A of

Mine drone surveying, UAV mining survey, Drone photogrammetry in mining, LiDAR drone mining, Aerial mine mapping, Drone volumetric analysis, Mining site inspection drone, Drone-based topographic survey, Remote sensing in mining, Drone stockpile measurement

IBM Drone Survey SOP in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu |under sub rule (5) of rule 34A of

Application: IBM Drone Survey SOP inDindigul, Tamil Nadu.|under Rule 34A of the Mineral Conservation and Development Rules (MCDR), 2236

Submission to IBM

• File formats: Submit orthomosaic as GeoTIFF, DEM/DSM as GeoTIFF, shapefiles for vector layers, and PDF report as specified in the SOP.

• Coordinate system: Use the local projected coordinate system specified by the IBM SOP for that lease; include projection metadata in each file.

• Packaging: Organize files by folder (raster, vector, pointcloud, reports); include a metadata/index file listing filenames, coordinate system, datum, and contact details.

• Delivery method: Send data through the channel prescribed by IBM with required folder structure and naming conventions.

Compliance, documentation, and audits

• Retention: Keep raw images, processing logs, and GCP survey records for audit purposes.

• Non‑compliance: Be aware that failure to follow SOP timelines, formats, or accuracy requirements may invite penalties or further inspection by IBM.

IBM Drone Survey SOP in Dindigul RAYNAS GEOMATICS