3D Scanning Technology for Digital Grain Depot: Empowering Volume Measurement of Bulk Grain Piles in Storage

Grain security is crucial to national stability and people's livelihood. As a major grain producer and consumer globally, China attaches great significance to grain storage, which is related to military supplies, people's food, national security, and social stability. However, verifying the volume of reserved grain in warehouses and real-time monitoring of grain inbound and outbound have long been key challenges in storage management. With the development of 3D scanning technology, SOLIDAT's SLDL 6300 Series Laser Scanner provides an efficient and accurate solution for bulk grain pile volume measurement, boosting the construction of "Digital Grain Depot".

Project Overview

Bulk grain reserve depots in China are usually classified into rectangular and circular types. When measuring the volume of bulk grain piles in storage, for fixed-point scanning, the maximum span of the grain depot directly affects the collection density of point cloud data, which in turn influences the quality and accuracy of volume measurement. To address this, SOLIDAT adopted the SLDL 6300 Series Laser Scanner to carry out mobile scanning operations, effectively overcoming the limitations of traditional measurement methods.

Technical Challenges

The volume measurement of irregularly shaped grain piles has long been a major difficulty in the grain industry. Traditional measurement methods (such as manual surveying and GPS estimation) are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also unable to accurately capture the actual shape of grain piles, leading to large measurement errors. This directly affects the effective supervision of grain inventory quantity and brings risks to grain storage management.

Solution

I.On-site Investigation and Route Design 

First, conduct a comprehensive on-site investigation based on the actual needs of the user's management and the on-site environment, and design a scientific and reasonable scanning route to ensure full coverage of the grain pile without missing or redundant scanning.

II. Mobile 3D Point Cloud Data Collection

Use the SLDL 6300 Series Laser Scanner. A single operator can complete the collection of 3D point cloud data on the surface of the bulk grain pile by walking around the grain pile with the device. The mobile APP replaces the traditional touch screen to browse point cloud data, and real-time data processing is performed during the entire scanning process, enabling the operator to monitor the scanning effect in real-time.

III.Point Cloud Data Processing and Volume Calculation

Carry out procedural denoising, simplification, and fusion processing on the obtained initial point cloud data. With the support of professional data processing software, a 3D data model of the grain pile is established to automatically calculate and analyze the accurate volume of the pile, and generate detailed test reports.

IV.Multi-functional Data Analysis

The supporting professional analysis software allows users to specify elevation datums, calculate the volume above and below different elevation datums, and the volume of the pile between elevation planes. It can also compare the volume changes of grain piles in different periods, providing comprehensive data support for grain inventory management.

V.Multi-platform Adaptability

The SLDL 6300 Series Laser Scanner is developed based on multiple platforms and can be handheld, backpack-mounted, vehicle-mounted, or drone-mounted. It has unique advantages in inventory measurement of coal piles, ore piles, materials, and grain depots. Without the need for GPS, it can perform rapid mobile scanning operations both indoors (such as warehouses) and outdoors.

Application Advantages

• High Measurement Accuracy: The 3D scanning technology captures centimeter-level point cloud data, accurately restoring the actual shape of irregular grain piles, with a measurement error far lower than that of traditional methods.
• Efficient Operation: A single person can complete the scanning of a large grain pile in a short time, which is 10-20 times more efficient than manual measurement, greatly reducing labor costs.
• Strong Environmental Adaptability: It can work stably in complex environments such as warehouses and outdoor areas without relying on GPS, overcoming the limitations of traditional measurement methods.
• Digital Management Support: The generated 3D models and detailed reports realize the digitalization and visualization of grain pile management, providing accurate data support for grain inbound and outbound statistics, inventory inspections, and supervision.

Conclusion

The application of 3D scanning technology in the volume measurement of bulk grain piles in storage effectively solves the long-standing pain points of inaccurate and inefficient traditional measurement methods. As a core technology empowering the "Digital Grain Depot", the SLDL 6300 Series Laser Scanner improves the objectivity and timeliness of grain storage management, and provides reliable technical support for ensuring national grain security. In the future, with the continuous innovation and popularization of 3D scanning technology, SOLIDAT will continue to provide more efficient and professional solutions for the global grain storage and management field.