Surveying for Mining & Development

Archive Surveying

Analysis-ready data for forensic engineering and legacy asset management

More than five decades of archive satellite imagery exists. For years where the imagery exists, it may be possible to produce elevation surveys (DEM) from archive satellite imagery.

PhotoSat’s Archive Surveying helps engineers understand the operational and structural history of a site, either by filling in gaps in the survey record or verifying existing survey data.

1973 Orthophoto from Keyhole Satellite

2010 Orthophoto from WorldView-2

1973 Orthophoto from Keyhole Satellite

2010 Orthophoto from WorldView-2

Key applications:

Legacy tailings facility management
Forensic engineering
Production of pre-construction original ground surface
Mine closure and compliance

Elevation grid formats:

File Format(s): ASCII, CSV, DWG, DXF, ECW, ERS, LAS, TIF, and XML.

Thinned Grid formats are available to reduce file size for projects over low-grade slopes.

Learn more about the technology behind our Elevation Surveying.

Technical Specifications:

Type

Bare ground surface (DEM) or Orthophoto

Vertical Accuracy (with control)

Based on satellite specifications More Info

Satellite Specifications for Elevation Surveys

Some specifications for survey deliverables depend on the satellite used to acquire the imagery.

Satellite	Expected Vertical Accuracy	Orthophoto Ground Resolution (Pixel Size)	Orthophoto Colour	Elevation Grid Spacing (Ground Sample Distance)
WV1	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Greyscale, with colourization options available	1 m or 50 cm
WV2	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	1 m or 50 cm
WV3	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm or 30 cm	Colour	1 m, 50 cm, 30 cm, or 15 cm (resampled)
Pleiades 1A	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Pleiades 1B	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Keyhole	--	0.61 m to 1.2 m	Greyscale	0.61 m to 1.2 m

Survey Accuracy & Ground Control Information

Relative Accuracy

Based on satellite specifications More Info

Satellite Specifications for Elevation Surveys

Some specifications for survey deliverables depend on the satellite used to acquire the imagery.

Satellite	Expected Vertical Accuracy	Orthophoto Ground Resolution (Pixel Size)	Orthophoto Colour	Elevation Grid Spacing (Ground Sample Distance)
WV1	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m or 50 cm	Greyscale, with colourization options available	1 m or 50 cm
WV2	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m or 50 cm	Colour	1 m or 50 cm
WV3	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m, 50 cm, or 30 cm	Colour	1 m, 50 cm, 30 cm, or 15 cm (resampled)
Pleiades 1A	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Pleiades 1B	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Keyhole	--	0.61 m to 1.2 m	Greyscale	0.61 m to 1.2 m

Survey Accuracy & Ground Control Information

Ground Resolution (GSD)

Based on satellite specifications More Info

Satellite Specifications for Elevation Surveys

Some specifications for survey deliverables depend on the satellite used to acquire the imagery.

Satellite	Expected Vertical Accuracy	Orthophoto Ground Resolution (Pixel Size)	Orthophoto Colour	Elevation Grid Spacing (Ground Sample Distance)
WV1	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m or 50 cm	Greyscale, with colourization options available	1 m or 50 cm
WV2	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m or 50 cm	Colour	1 m or 50 cm
WV3	10 – 15 cm RMSE (with ground control)	1 m, 50 cm, or 30 cm	Colour	1 m, 50 cm, 30 cm, or 15 cm (resampled)
Pleiades 1A	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Pleiades 1B	20 – 30 cm RMSE (with ground control)	50 cm	Colour	50 cm
Keyhole	--	0.61 m to 1.2 m	Greyscale	0.61 m to 1.2 m