Improving Imagery Workflows in the Mining Sector
Turning Raw Data Into Useable Insights
With the rise of drones, satellites and LiDAR, access to spatial imagery is easier than ever; however, turning this raw data into usable insights is another challenge entirely. In mining, up-to-date imagery is crucial for site planning, environmental monitoring and operational decision-making, from tracking haul roads to assessing land disturbance.
For one major Australian mining company, the issue wasn’t collecting imagery but ensuring the right people could access it quickly and reliably.
The company had powerful tools in place and large volumes of imagery arriving from a range of suppliers. They needed a way to automatically process and publish this data into usable services without increasing internal overhead or bottlenecks.
That’s where NGIS came in. We worked closely with the company to design and deploy a custom automation pipeline that streamlined the processing and delivery of imagery. To ensure success and knowledge transfer, NGIS also seconded a geospatial expert to work alongside the internal team to support the rollout and ongoing refinement of the solution.
What was needed
The mining company was sourcing imagery from multiple suppliers, including drone and satellite providers. Their internal GIS team had invested in ArcGIS Image Dedicated and developed a Python-based workflow to automate parts of the publishing process. But as data volumes grew, so did the pressure on their team.
They needed to eliminate repetitive tasks, reduce turnaround times, and ensure the workflow could scale with the business, all while maintaining the quality of the spatial services that teams across the organisation relied on.
Building the workflow
NGIS designed and implemented a tool to publish image services to ArcGIS Image Dedicated whenever new imagery was uploaded to an AWS S3 bucket. This resulted in:
- Service creation is streamlined
- Faster turnaround from image capture to business use
- Seamless support for multiple imagery suppliers
By building a robust and streamlined publishing workflow, NGIS helped ensure that new imagery flowed through the system with minimal human intervention and maximum reliability.
What NGIS delivered
- A custom tool to streamline publishing from AWS to ArcGIS Image Dedicated
- Enhanced Python workflows to handle growing data volumes
- Integration of time-enabled image service and support for drone datasets
- Expanded spatial services, including slope, terrain and elevation layers
- On-demand technical support for ArcGIS Image Dedicated platform
Why NGIS?
This organisation needed more than development support; it needed a partner who understood both geospatial and software engineering. NGIS provided a dedicated senior consultant backed by a multidisciplinary team that could speak both languages.
With deep expertise in Esri technology, especially ArcGIS Image Dedicated, NGIS delivered a fit-for-purpose solution that could confidently support and optimise a specialised system with unique requirements.
The results
The mining company now benefits from a faster, more resilient imagery workflow that removes the friction between data capture and business use. Their GIS team is freed from repetitive publishing tasks, and spatial services are now more accessible and consistent across the organisation.
With NGIS’s flexible support model, the company scaled its capabilities without growing its internal team while ensuring its systems are ready for continued growth in imagery data.
This project is a great example of how NGIS helps businesses bridge the gap between geospatial data and practical insights, ensuring that data doesn’t just exist but drives value.
Looking to unlock the full value of your spatial imagery?
NGIS helps organisations turn complex imagery into accessible, actionable insights. Explore our services to see how we can support your team.
