North Dakota Department of Transportation Chooses Botlink for Stockpile Measurement

NDDOT will use drones and Botlink InSites to accurately measure stockpiles

Fargo, ND, October 8, 2020: Botlink is excited to announce that the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has chosen Botlink InSites for its drone surveying and mapping needs. NDDOT uses drones to fly stockpiles of aggregate (rock, sand, and other building materials), and then processes that information to generate accurate inventory numbers.

Botlink InSites is map generation software that uses images collected during drone flight to generate survey maps and 3D models with accurate dimensions. Users can then identify stockpiles of materials they want to measure within the software, and get accurate, actionable data.

During the decision-making process, the NDDOT team rigorously tested the Botlink software to ensure accuracy and reliability. The DOT‘s survey team went on location and took measurements of stockpiles, while also flying those locations with a drone and processing the images using Botlink InSites. Both Botlink’s software and the DOT survey team returned virtually identical volume calculations on the ground.

“When we were looking for a new stockpile measurement software, the number one factor was accuracy. We compared the Botlink software with our survey team, and the results exceeded expectations,” said NDDOT Strategy and Innovation Director Russ Buchholz. “Additionally, Botlink's customer service is top-notch, and the software is simple to use and returns results fast,” continued Buchholz.

 There has been rapid adoption of drones and mapping software with companies that produce aggregate and aggregate products, such as sand, gravel, and concrete. Understanding inventory on the ground used to take days and required workers to climb piles to obtain measurements.

 “We’re excited to add the North Dakota DOT to our ever-growing list of customers. The NDDOT team and our users see real cost savings by quickly getting accurate data, including reducing overproduction and underproduction - both of which have a financial expense,” said Terri Zimmerman, CEO of Botlink.