Monitoring of ferrous scrap yards in steelworks
Monitoring scrap storage areas is one of the most complex challenges facing steelworks and facilities that sort and recycle ferrous materials. Managing large volumes of scrap – which is often heterogeneous and constantly on the move – requires tools capable of ensuring data accuracy without slowing down production processes.
Thanks to the use of drones equipped with high-resolution sensors and dedicated processing software, our application enables continuous and accurate monitoring of the scrap yard, supporting the volume estimation of the material present, its classification and the monitoring of the condition of the stockpiles.
Volume estimation for stock reconciliation and financial statements
Knowing precisely the volumes of scrap actually present in the yard is critical not only for operational management, but also for stock reconciliation and the correct valuation of scrap in the company’s financial statements. Today, these estimates are often made by eye or through empirical calculations, with a margin of error that directly affects both inventory and financial statements. The use of drones and LiDAR technology, on the other hand, provides precise, reliable and repeatable data over time, independent of the operator’s subjective judgement.
Our drone-based volumetric estimation provides plant managers with up-to-date, verifiable data that is independent of manual estimates, reducing discrepancies between the book inventory and actual stock levels.
What makes scrap yard monitoring possible
The system captures data and images in real time, offering the ability to:
- map the entire scrap storage area and carry out an accurate volumetric estimate of the material present, to support stock reconciliation;
- classify ferrous material by type, supporting inventory management decisions;
- identify objects that pose a risk to the furnace within the scrap heaps, such as foreign or non-meltable materials.
A solution designed for steelworks
The solution is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing processes in steelworks, offering an intuitive, scalable interface suited to a complex operational context such as ferrous scrap management.
