Eliminating Stockpile Access through UAV-Enabled LiDAR Surveying

We are delighted to share that Harrison Grierson, in partnership with Ballance Agri-Nutrients, has been named a finalist in the 2026 New Zealand Workplace Health and Safety Awards in the collaboration category. The project recognises how innovative thinking and strong client collaboration can fundamentally transform a high-risk activity into a safer, more efficient process.

A long-standing partnership delivering measurable value

For more than six years, we have partnered with Ballance Agri-Nutrients as a trusted provider of stockpile volume measurement services across its nationwide manufacturing and distribution network.

Our role spans the full survey lifecycle — from methodology design and planning through to on-site data capture, LiDAR processing, modelling, and the delivery of accurate, repeatable volume calculations. These insights enable Ballance to confidently manage inventory and support critical operational decisions.

Leading the shift from risk management to risk elimination

Recognising the inherent limitations of traditional survey methods, we identified an opportunity to fundamentally rethink how stockpile surveys were undertaken. Conventional approaches required physical access to stockpiles, exposing teams to hazards such as unstable ground, working at height, and proximity to heavy machinery.

While these risks could be mitigated, they could not be fully removed. A more proactive and innovative approach was developed — placing risk elimination, rather than risk management, at the centre of the solution.

Innovating with UAV-enabled LiDAR surveying

This led to the introduction of UAV-enabled LiDAR surveying using the Elios 3 — a collision-tolerant drone capable of operating in confined, GPS-denied, and dusty industrial environments.

By adopting this technology, high-density, full-coverage data can now be captured remotely, eliminating the need for personnel to enter hazardous areas.

Working in close partnership with Ballance, this methodology was developed, tested, and validated against traditional survey techniques. This ensured accuracy, built client confidence, and established a new, safer standard for stockpile measurement — now implemented across multiple sites.

The impact: safer, smarter, more efficient

The results have been significant:

Near-total elimination of stockpile access, fundamentally improving safety outcomes

Sub-1% variance in measurement accuracy, enhancing confidence in data

Reduced time on site, minimising operational disruption

Higher-quality data, enabling more informed decision-making

A model for safer delivery

This project demonstrates what can be achieved when technical expertise is combined with a shared commitment to safety and innovation.