- Retain the boundary and base.
- Inspect difficult faces and missing coverage.
- Keep volume separate from mass conversion.
Define what is being measured
Name the pile and capture date, then agree its boundary and base surface. A calculated volume is the relationship between surfaces over that boundary. Changing the assumed base can change the result without the stockpile itself changing.
If the report compares visits, retain the method used at each visit. Explain any change in boundary, base or capture coverage before interpreting a difference as an inventory movement.
- 01SurfaceComplete capture + reference
- 02CalculateBoundary + agreed base
- 03ReportQuantity + units + method
Collect the complete surface
Plan imagery or LiDAR coverage around the top, edges and difficult faces. Inspect the reconstructed surface for missing areas and interpolation. A attractive overview does not establish that the whole pile was captured.
Matrice 4E is a photographic starting point; L3 is a LiDAR option. Test the method on the actual material and geometry rather than assuming either produces an acceptable surface under every condition.
Keep the calculation record
| Retain | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Named pile and capture date | Identifies the quantity being reported. |
| Surface and reference information | Makes the measurement repeatable. |
| Boundary and base assumptions | Explains what the calculation includes. |
| Checks and unresolved coverage | Shows the parts needing review. |
| Exported quantity and units | Lets inventory staff use the intended result. |
Volume and mass are separate steps
A measured volume is not automatically a mass or commercial inventory value. Any density, moisture or business conversion belongs in a separately documented calculation. Name its source and owner so a reader can distinguish measurement from conversion.
For a recurring service, agree the reporting fields with the inventory team before the first full capture. Keep the raw project alongside the reported quantity so a disputed boundary can be revisited without guessing how the original number was produced.