Laser scanning — also known as LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) or terrestrial/airborne laser scanning (TLS/ALS) — is a remote sensing technology that uses pulsed laser light to measure precise distances from a scanner or sensor to surfaces and objects in three-dimensional space, generating dense point cloud datasets that represent the geometry and spatial configuration of the scanned environment. In bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining, laser scanning has become an indispensable tool across a broad range of operational, geological, safety, and rehabilitation applications. In open-pit mining, ground-based and airborne laser scanning provides highly accurate, rapid surveys of pit walls, bench faces, and waste rock dumps, enabling mine geologists and engineers to precisely map ore and waste contacts, monitor slope deformation and rockfall hazards, and update three-dimensional mine models for production planning. Laser scanning of underground gold and diamond mine workings allows detailed mapping of stope geometries, measurement of over- and under-break, and detection of roof instability in a non-contact and inherently safe manner. In exploration, airborne LiDAR surveys generate high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) that reveal structural geology features, drainage patterns, and geomorphic indicators of mineralization beneath vegetation canopy. For land rehabilitation and landform design applications in bauxite and iron ore mining — particularly in heavily vegetated terrain — airborne LiDAR data penetrates tree canopy to resolve bare-ground topography, enabling detailed pre-mining baseline surveys, precise calculation of earthwork volumes, and accurate assessment of rehabilitated landform surface drainage characteristics. Drone-mounted laser scanners are increasingly deployed for rapid, frequent monitoring of stockpile volumes, conveyor and processing plant structures, and tailings storage facility embankments, providing near real-time spatial data to support operational decision-making and safety management.
