Statewide Departments of Transportation face unique challenges when measuring their stockpiles. Unlike aggregates or ready mix producers who maintain stockpiles in just a few locations, DOTs manage hundreds of stockpiles spread across thousands of miles of highway. These stockpiles are often situated near busy highways where traffic poses safety risks to surveyors, and drone operations are restricted.
Despite these challenges, transportation departments must maintain accurate, up-to-date inventory of their stockpiles. While drones have been a popular measurement tool in recent years, we’ve found that our SR Measure app for iPhone offers three compelling advantages for DOT stockpile measurement.
Reason #1: SR Measure is Easy to Deploy Statewide
The most significant advantage of using SR Measure on iPhone is that most DOT sites already have iPhones available. In cases where new devices are needed, IT departments can easily procure and deploy iPhones without going through specialized equipment dealers. This makes scaling your measurement program much more cost-effective compared to drone or survey equipment investments.
Unlike drone operations, most staff members are already familiar with using iPhones. The SR Measure app features self-guided training modules that make learning the measurement process straightforward and efficient.
Most importantly, your employees don’t need FAA certification, which is required for drone pilots. The FAA certification requirement typically limits the number of staff who can measure stockpiles with drones, creating logistical challenges when pilots must travel hundreds of miles between stockpile yards. With SR Measure on iPhone, any trained employee at each site can perform measurements, eliminating the need for specialized personnel to travel.
READ: Why Companies Need to Part 107 Certify Their Drone Pilots
Reason #2: SR Measure Works Anywhere
Many locations where DOTs store materials have drone flight restrictions. For instance, drones cannot operate within 5 miles of towered airports without air traffic control permission or over moving vehicles – a common scenario for DOTs with stockpiles along busy highways. SR Measure on iPhone eliminates these restrictions, allowing measurements regardless of location.
READ: No Drone, No Problem with Stockpile Reports
The ability to measure in rain and wind is another key advantage of SR Measure. Our system was perfected in the rainy Pacific Northwest, ensuring reliable performance in challenging weather conditions. While drones are limited to light winds and clear weather, SR Measure continues working in rain and wind, which is particularly important during winter operations.
Reason #3: SR Measure Excels at Indoor Measurements
Indoor stockpile measurement is a challenge for both drone and traditional survey methods. Drones are susceptible to crashing when flying indoors, while surveyors struggle without GPS assistance. SR Measure does not need GPS to function making it ideal for indoors.
SR Measure can accurately measure stockpiles with surrounding walls – essential for salt sheds. During winter, DOTs using our service measure their covered salt stockpiles weekly to maintain adequate supply during storm events. While drone pilots would struggle to visit every salt stockpile weekly, on-site staff can easily perform these measurements with SR Measure.
Conclusion
While drones remain popular for stockpile measurement, DOTs should carefully evaluate their specific needs and operational constraints. Some may question iPhone measurement accuracy, but a TxDOT study confirmed that SR Measure achieves +/- 2% accuracy compared to lidar scans.
Based on easy deployment, unrestricted measurement locations, and superior indoor capability, we believe SR Measure on iPhone is the optimal solution for statewide Departments of Transportation. Schedule a demo with our team to see how SR Measure can solve your digital stockpile management needs.