
OceanaGold's Reefton Mine in New Zealand.
Reducing Contractor Cost for Mine Restoration
The OceanaGold Reefton team already had a drone on-site when they realized they could begin using the hardware for site inspections. “We were already paying contractors $10,000–$20,000 (AUD) to do this work anyway,” Jeff explains, “so why not do it ourselves?” Macraes, a fully operational OceanaGold mine, was already using DroneDeploy and recommended the Reefton team start with simple flight paths. Always looking for ways to reduce time spent and complete the same work more cost-effectively, the team began testing DroneDeploy for a host of different tasks. Through this trial-and-error process, Jeff ascertained that the software could track work, measure critical functions, and design site plans. After sharing this information, Jeff and the Environmental team determined that DroneDeploy would also be used to calculate areas for tree planting. The ease-of-use and autonomy that came with DroneDeploy’s software were the key differentiators for purchase.