LASER TECHNOLOGY The laser scanner uses the building blueprints to determine the depth of the stockpile to eliminate the need for emptying the building to baseline the scanner system
Power and automation technology group ABB has developed a level and volume measurement laser scanner, the VM3D laser scanner, for process and utility applications.
The scanner is a noncontact volume-measuring instrument designed for granular solid materials. It is used for inventory management to measure the volume of stockpiles stored out in the open or in large structures such as silos, bunkers, domes and sheds. By integrating accurate laser technology into a network of scanning instruments, com- plex surfaces can be mapped accurately.
Based on pulsed technology, the VM3D
computes the shape and volume of stockpiles from the point cloud and merges the data from more than one scanner to provide a measurement for very large stockpiles with an error ratio of less than 2% for volumes greater than 100 m3.
The product measures all clearly visible surfaces, irrespective of texture, granularity, slope and colour. It can, therefore, deal with mineral ores, grains and synthetic fibres – such as gold, sugar, fertilisers, corn and plastic pellets.
The system uses remote monitoring and data processing services to guarantee data integrity at the level needed for confident stock management and precise auditing.