INSTANT BULK SOLIDS VOLUME
MEASUREMENT WITH LIDAR

LiDAR volume measurement uses 3D Light Detection and Ranging sensors to scan the surface of bulk material — a stockpile, a silo, a truck bed, or material on a conveyor — and build a high-resolution geometric model from which volume is calculated directly. CRATUS combines LiDAR volume measurement with lab-characterized material density to deliver weight estimation with a documented confidence interval.

Volume accuracy on a well-deployed CRATUS LiDAR system runs in the high 90s percent. Multi-angle LiDAR fusion, up to four sensors per edge unit, eliminates blind spots on irregular pile shapes. Weight estimation accuracy depends on how thoroughly the material has been characterized in our lab and how variable site conditions are. Every weight number ships with a confidence interval so you know how much to trust it.

Scales, such as belt scales and weighbridges, measure weight directly but only at one point in the workflow. They often require trucks to stop, drift over time, and need calibration shutdowns. LiDAR-based weight estimation works continuously, anywhere material exists — in piles, on belts, in silos, on moving trucks — without contact, without stopping, and without recalibration outages. CRATUS LiDAR weight estimation pairs the geometric measurement with a material density model that accounts for humidity, temperature, pile shape, and seasonal variation.

Yes to all three. LiDAR is an active sensor that emits its own light, so darkness is irrelevant. The right LiDAR sensor selection handles dust, rain, snow, and full sun. Outdoor CRATUS LiDAR installations are routine across mining, quarrying, ports, and agriculture deployments.

Often, yes. Most customers run CRATUS LiDAR alongside existing scales during commissioning to validate the system, then either replace the scale, keep both for cross-validation, or use LiDAR to flag drift and maintenance issues on the legacy equipment. You decide the path during the feasibility step.

A single-use-case LiDAR pilot at one site typically runs four to eight weeks from site assessment to live data. Multi-site LiDAR rollouts scale from there. The CRATUS engagement process covers feasibility, layout design, pilot, integration, and ongoing operations.

Yes. Each site processes LiDAR data locally on its own edge unit. Aggregated views and cross-site reconciliation flow through the central dashboard or get pushed to your ERP, MES, historian, or BI tools.

One-time hardware purchase, including LiDAR sensors and edge units, plus your choice. Run it yourself with one-time engineering fees for service work like sensor swaps, recalibration, or new material characterization. Or subscribe for managed operations: per-node monthly fee covering remote LiDAR monitoring, software updates, multi-site rollup, multi-user access, and ongoing support. Fixed-price quote after the feasibility study.