A A A Ц Ц Ц Ц

ШРИФТ:

Arial Times New Roman

ИНТЕРВАЛ:

х1 х1.5 х2

КЕРНИНГ:

Обычный Средний Большой

ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЯ:

Черно-белые Цветные
For the visually impaired Standard Version
Scientific, Technological and Production Journal
ISSN 2079–3332 (print)
ISSN 3034-6835 (online)
founded in 2001

Comparative analysis of the stability of rock mass volume calculation methods under varying point-cloud density

Original articles: 2026 No 5

Comparative analysis of the stability of rock mass volume calculation methods under varying point-cloud density

DOI: 10.56195/20793332-2026-26-5-43-49

Read in pdf M.G. Vystrchil1, M.V. Romanov2, L.A. Ramirez-Melendez1
  1. Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation
  2. JSC "Artyomovsky Mine", Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation
p. 43-49, No.5/2026
Abstract:
The paper presents a comparative analysis of the stability of rock mass volume estimation methods under varying point-cloud density in open-pit mining conditions. The initial spatial data were obtained from UAV photogrammetry and processed in Agisoft Metashape to generate a dense point cloud, a digital surface model, and an orthomosaic. To evaluate the influence of spatial data density, the original point cloud was progressively decimated by increasing the spacing between neighbouring points. Volume calculations were performed using three approaches: TIN-based modelling in AutoCAD Civil 3D, digital surface difference analysis in a GIS environment, and voxel-based modelling. For each spatial-data configuration, absolute deviations and relative errors of volume estimation were determined with respect to the reference configuration corresponding to the maximum point-cloud density. The results show that for point spacings up to 10 m, the relative errors of both CAD- and GIS-based approaches remain within the allowable limit of σallow=1%. However, further increase in spacing leads to accelerated error growth in the GIS environment. The study demonstrates that TIN-based modelling exhibits higher stability under reduced spatial-data density, whereas the voxel-based approach provides comparatively stable results for local-scale analysis. The obtained results can be applied for selecting appropriate spatial-modelling algorithms and processing parameters for UAV- and LiDAR-based mine surveying in open-pit mining operations.
Keywords:
point cloud, UAV photogrammetry, volume estimation, open-pit mining, TIN modelling, GIS, voxel modelling, spatial data
For citation:
Vystrchil M.G., Romanov M.V., Ramirez-Melendez L.A. Comparative analysis of the stability of rock mass volume calculation methods under varying point-cloud density. Mine Surveying and Subsurface Use. 2026; 26 (5): 43-49. (In Russ.). https:// doi.org/10.56195/20793332-2026-26-5-43-49
Information about the authors:
  1. Mikhail G. Vystrchil – Cand. (Sci.) Eng. Department of Mine Surveying. "Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University", Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1669-7776; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  2. Mikhail V. Romanov – Head of Vocational Training Department of JSC "Artyomovsky Mine", Krasnoyarsk, Russian Federation; e-mail: mihail. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
  3. Luis Alberto Ramirez-Melendez – Postgraduate student, "Empress Catherine II Saint Petersburg Mining University", Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6459-8975; e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
References:
  1. 1. Afanasiev P.I., Medina S.Ya., Savon V.Yu. et al. The Analysis of Slope Stability of the Mining Road of the Camarioca Este Deposit of the Comandante Ernesto Che Guevara Company. Occupational Safety in Industry. 2024; 4: 78-84. https://doi.org/10.24000/0409-2961-2024-4-78-84.
  2. 2. Хохлов С.В. Применение методов цифрового моделирования для прогнозирования параметров развала взорванной горной массы. Записки Горного института. 2025; 275: 196-204. Khokhlov S.V. Application of digital simulation methods for predicting parameters of blasted rock muckpile. Journal of Mining Institute. 2025; 275: 196-204. (In Russ.).
  3. 3. Alsayed A., Nabawy M.R.A. Stockpile Volume Estimation in Open and Confined Environments: A Review. Drones. 2023; 8 (7): 537. https://doi. org/10.3390/drones7080537.
  4. 4. Ajayi O.G., Ajulo J. Investigating the Applicability of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Photogrammetry for the Estimation of the Volume of Stockpiles. Quaestiones Geographicae. 2021; 1 (40): 25-38. https://doi.org/10.2478/quageo-2021-0002.
  5. 5. Gusev V.N., Filippov A.A. Application of GNSS, LiDAR and UAVs for monitoring open-pit mine volumes. Journal of Mining Institute. 2026; (278): 123-135. https://doi.org/10.31897/PMI.2026.12.
  6. 6. Kim Y.H., Shin S.S., Lee H.K. et al. Field Applicability of Earthwork Volume Calculations Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Sustainability. 2022; 15 (14): 9331. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159331.
  7. 7. Meng X., Wang T., Cheng D. et al. Enhanced Point Cloud Slicing Method for Volume Calculation of Large Irregular Bodies: Validation in Open-Pit Mining. Remote Sensing. 2023; 20 (15): 5006. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15205006.
  8. 8. Voloshina E.A., Novozhenin S.Yu., Kelekhsaev S.K. Substantiation of use of unmanned aerial vehicles in volume evaluation of mineral storages. MIAB. 2023; 11-1: 305-321. https://doi.org/10.25018/0236_1493_2023_111_0_305.
  9. 9. Wen Y., Yao X., Li C. et al. Calculation of Excavation Volume in Open-Pit Mines Under Complex Conditions Based on Multi-Source Stereo Remote Sensing. Remote Sensing. 2026; 4 (18): 654. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs18040654.
  10. 10. Курбатова В.В., Ломакина Н.Е., Гарифулина И.Ю. и др. Параметрическая сходимость результатов съемки беспилотных воздушных аппаратов «Геоскан 401» и GNSS при выполнении маркшейдерских работ на месторождении «Наталка» Магаданской области. Маркшейдерия и недропользование. 2023; 2 (124): 76-80. https://doi.org/10.56195/20793332_2023_2_76_80. Kurbatova V.V. Lomakina N.E., Garifulina I.Y. et al. Parametric convergence of survey results from Geoscan 401 unmanned aerial vehicles and GNSS during mine surveying works at the Natalka deposit in the Magadan Oblast. Mine Surveying and Subsurface Use. 2023; 2 (124): 76-80. https://doi.org/10.56195/20793332_2023_2_76_80. (In Russ.).
  11. 11. Dhakal S., Manandhar A., Shah A. et al. Integrating UAS Remote Sensing and Edge Detection for Accurate Coal Stockpile Volume Estimation. Remote Sensing. 2025; 18 (17): 3136. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17183136.
  12. 12. Szafarczyk A., Siwek M. GIS-Based Process Automation of Calculating the Volume of Mineral Extracted from a Deposit. Geosciences. 2025; 8 (15): 315. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15080315.
  13. 13. Yin C. Wen Q., Liu S. et al. Volume Estimation of Land Surface Change Based on GaoFen-7. Remote Sensing. 2025; 7 (17): 1310. https://doi. org/10.3390/rs17071310.
  14. 14. Выстрчил М. Г., Мукминова Д. З., Балтыжакова Т. И. и др. Алгоритм вычисления деформаций подземных горных выработок на основании данных лазерно-сканирующей съемки. Горный информационно-аналитический бюллетень. 2025; 11-1: 57-76. https://doi.org/10.25018/0236_1493_2025_111_0_57. Vystrchil M. G., Mukminova D. Z., Baltyzhakova T. I. et al. Algorithm for calculating deformations of underground mine workings based on laser scanning survey data. MIAB. 2025; 11-1: 57-76. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.25018/0236_1493_2025_111_0_57.
  15. 15. Ivanov S.P., Petrova Е.М. Point cloud algorithms for rock mass volume estimation. Eurasian Mining. 2026; 1: 34-45. https://doi.org/10.17580/ em.2026.01.04.
  16. 16. Lee S.B., Han D., Song M. Calculation and Comparison of Earthwork Volume Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Photogrammetry and Traditional Surveying Method. Sensors and Materials. 2022; 12 (34): 4737. https://doi.org/10.18494/SAM4192.
  17. 17. Колесатова О.С., Колкова М.С., Горбатова Е.А. и др. Анализ структурной неоднородности массива горных пород карьера Юбилейного месторождения. Маркшейдерия и недропользование. 2026; 26 (2): 38-46. https://doi.org/10.56195/20793332-2026-26-2-38-46. Kolesatova O.S., Kolkova M.S., Gorbatova E.A. et al. Analysis of rock mass structural heterogeneity in the open pit of the Yubileynoye deposit. Mine Surveying and Subsurface Use. 2026; 26 (2): 38-46. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.56195/20793332-2026-26-2-38-46.

 

Газ. Нефть. Новые технологии – Крайнему Северу

New issue

The new issue of the journal «Mine surveying and Subsurface Use» has been published
No. 5 (vol.26), September-October 2026

New materials