TL;DR: Getting a drone survey into mine planning software is mostly a handoff problem: the right format, the right coordinate system and vertical datum, and the right density. Surpac, Vulcan and Deswik all read point clouds, but each has a native format. Choose drone software on what it exports, how it handles coordinates, and who else can see the surface.
Key takeaways
- Mine planning runs on current surfaces. According to the US Geological Survey, US mines produced $112 billion of nonfuel minerals in 2025, and every plan for that production starts from a surveyed surface.
- Planning packages read point clouds directly. According to Dassault Systèmes, Surpac loads LAS, XYZ and ASC point clouds to create surfaces and solids.
- Native formats still matter. According to Maptek's documentation, Vulcan stores surfaces as .00t triangulations and imports LAS and LAZ point clouds.
- Coordinates break more handoffs than formats do. A surface in the wrong grid or vertical datum lands in the wrong place, however good the survey.
- Contours are often the handoff the wider team reads. According to the help center of Birdi (birdi.io), contours can be generated from any elevation model at intervals from 0.25 m to 10 m.
What does a mine planning package need from a drone survey?
A mine planning package needs a surface it can read, in the mine's coordinate system and vertical datum, at a density that captures benches and toes without overwhelming the software. That usually means a point cloud, an elevation model or a triangulated surface, plus contours. The file format is the easy part; the coordinates are where handoffs fail.
Most mines run on a local mine grid or a projected system with a defined vertical datum, such as AHD in Australia. A drone survey processed in a different system lands meters away, or at the wrong height. So the first question for any drone platform is whether it processes into your system, with the right geoid, from the start.
Who uses the surface
The planning engineer uses the surface in Surpac, Vulcan or Deswik. The surveyor checks it. And the site team, managers and contractors need to see it too, usually without a planning license. That last group is often forgotten, and it is where a shared map helps. For background, see our guide to contour lines and their uses.
What format does each planning package use?
Each package has a native surface format and reads common exchange formats. Surpac uses string (.str) and DTM (.dtm) files and loads LAS point clouds. Vulcan uses .00t triangulations and imports LAS and LAZ. Deswik imports point clouds and industry-standard formats. Civil 3D builds surfaces from point clouds and DEMs. Check each against your version.
| Package | Native surface format | Common imports from drone data |
|---|---|---|
| GEOVIA Surpac | String (.str) and DTM (.dtm) | LAS, XYZ and ASC point clouds |
| Maptek Vulcan | Triangulation (.00t) | LAS and LAZ point clouds; DXF |
| Deswik | Its own design files | Point clouds; industry-standard CAD and GIS formats |
| Autodesk Civil 3D | Civil 3D surface | Point clouds; DEM rasters; contours |
How did we choose the drone software?
We chose drone platforms that mine survey and planning teams use, and compared them on surface outputs and formats, direct planning-package formats, coordinate system and geoid handling, data types in one view, access for people outside the paid team, and pricing. Birdi is listed first, and the order is not a ranking. Facts were checked on October 7, 2026.
We include Maptek PointStudio because it processes point clouds straight into Vulcan's format, which is the most direct handoff for a Vulcan site. We note plainly where a platform does not export a planning package's native format, including Birdi.
The best drone software for mine planning handoff in 2026
The drone software compared here for mine planning handoff is Birdi, Propeller, DroneDeploy, Pix4D and Maptek PointStudio. Each produces surfaces a planning package can read; they differ in native formats, coordinate handling and who else can see the result. Each entry carries the same fields, checked on October 7, 2026.
1. Birdi
Best for: Mine teams that want the surveyed surface and contours in their mine coordinate system, shared with people who never open planning software.
Typical customer size / segment: Mid-sized mining and quarry teams of roughly 30 to 500 staff.
Key strengths:
- Exports point clouds as LAS or LAZ, elevation models as float32 GeoTIFF and contours as GeoJSON.
- An export coordinate system is chosen at processing, with geoids including AUSGeoid2020 and EGM2008, so AHD heights are available.
- Contours generated from any elevation model at 0.25 m to 10 m intervals, on every plan, as often as needed.
Planning-package native formats: None. No .str, .00t or DXF contour export; convert in your planning or GIS software.
Access for people outside the paid team: Guests view and download without using a paid seat.
Data types in one view: Orthomosaics, elevation models, point clouds, contours, 360 photos and PDFs.
Processing: Cloud.
Watch-outs: Not for a surveyor who wants hands-on control of photogrammetry processing. It also does not suit a GIS analyst who needs a full desktop GIS.
Pricing: Growth is $287 USD a month, billed annually; point clouds are on paid plans. Ultimate is priced by quote (checked October 7, 2026).
2. Propeller
Best for: Mine survey teams that want exports aimed at mine planning, alongside volumes and machine data.
Typical customer size / segment: Mining, quarry and earthworks operators with a survey team.
Key strengths:
- Exports to Vulcan and Deswik, as its mining page describes.
- Survey-grade capture with its own ground control and PPK hardware.
- Imports pre-processed surfaces and designs in many formats.
Planning-package native formats: Exports aimed at Vulcan and Deswik.
Access for people outside the paid team: View-only permission by default for new users.
Data types in one view: Surveys, design surfaces, point clouds and machine data.
Processing: Cloud.
Watch-outs: Pricing is by quote, and the platform centers on the survey team.
Pricing: Contact for pricing.
3. DroneDeploy
Best for: Organizations that fly drones for many purposes and need surfaces for design software.
Typical customer size / segment: Individual pilots through to enterprise teams.
Key strengths:
- Elevation, contour and point cloud exports.
- Published guidance on importing its data into AutoCAD Civil 3D.
- Integrations with Esri and Autodesk.
Planning-package native formats: None specific to mine planning packages in the material we read.
Access for people outside the paid team: View-only map links on paid accounts.
Data types in one view: Orthomosaics, elevation, 3D models and point clouds.
Processing: Cloud.
Watch-outs: Team plans are by quote, and viewers need a paid account to use the tools.
Pricing: Flight & Analysis is $4,188 USD billed annually for one pilot (checked October 7, 2026).
4. Pix4D
Best for: Surveyors who want control of processing and a wide choice of export formats on the desktop.
Typical customer size / segment: Survey teams and consultants.
Key strengths:
- Contour lines export as DXF, SHP or PDF.
- Point clouds as LAS, LAZ, PLY or XYZ; DSMs as GeoTIFF, XYZ, LAS or LAZ.
- Hands-on control of each processing step in PIX4Dmapper or PIX4Dmatic.
Planning-package native formats: None, but DXF contours suit most CAD and planning tools.
Access for people outside the paid team: Sharing through PIX4Dcloud.
Data types in one view: Orthomosaics, point clouds, meshes and surfaces.
Processing: Desktop or cloud.
Watch-outs: Desktop processing needs a capable workstation, a point raised in 3 of 10 Capterra reviews of PIX4Dmapper.
Pricing: PIX4Dmapper is $3,990 USD a year (read September 21, 2026).
5. Maptek PointStudio
Best for: Vulcan sites that want point clouds processed straight into Vulcan's native formats.
Typical customer size / segment: Mine survey teams using Maptek software.
Key strengths:
- Point cloud processing within the Maptek ecosystem.
- Reads and writes Vulcan .00t triangulations, plus DXF, DWG and OBJ.
- Direct handoff to Vulcan for planning.
Planning-package native formats: Vulcan .00t.
Access for people outside the paid team: Through Maptek's tools; terms by quote.
Data types in one view: Point clouds and triangulated surfaces.
Processing: Desktop.
Watch-outs: It is survey and modeling software, so it suits surveyors, not the wider site team. It does not process drone photos into maps on its own in the material we read.
Pricing: Contact for pricing.
What are the coordinate traps in a mine planning handoff?
The coordinate traps are a mismatched grid, a mismatched vertical datum, and a missing or wrong geoid. A survey in a global system can land meters from the mine grid. One left on ellipsoidal heights can sit tens of meters off the mine's datum. Agree the coordinate system, datum and geoid with the planning team before the first flight.
A handoff checklist
- Grid: process into the mine's projected system or local grid, not the drone's default.
- Vertical datum: apply the right geoid so heights match the mine datum.
- Control: use the mine's surveyed ground control on every flight.
- Format: export what the package reads, and test one file before rolling out.
- Density: thin point clouds to what planning needs; full density can slow the software.
Our guide to georeferencing for site surveys explains the background.
Frequently asked questions
How do you import drone data into Surpac?
Surpac loads LAS, XYZ and ASC point clouds, which can be used to create surfaces and solids. Text point clouds can also be converted into Surpac string files and then a DTM. Make sure the drone data is in the mine's coordinate system and vertical datum before importing, or it will land in the wrong place.
What file format does Deswik use for surfaces?
Deswik works with its own design files and imports industry-standard formats. Its Deswik.Spatial product includes integrated point cloud import and processing for surface and underground work. Check the formats your Deswik version supports before choosing how to export from your drone software.
Can you make contours from a drone DEM?
Yes. Contours are generated from a digital elevation model at a chosen interval, such as 0.5 m or 1 m. Use a terrain model for bare ground, and a surface model if you want stockpiles and structures included. Most drone platforms and GIS tools can generate contours and export them for CAD.
What contour interval should a mine use?
It depends on the use and the terrain. Fine intervals, such as 0.25 m to 1 m, suit detailed design and bench checks. Coarser intervals, such as 2 m to 5 m, suit site-wide drawings and steep terrain, where fine contours crowd together. Match the interval to what the drawing is for.
Why do drone surfaces not line up with the mine grid?
Usually because the survey was processed in a different coordinate system or vertical datum from the mine's, or without the right geoid. The fix is to process into the mine grid with the mine's ground control and geoid from the start, then check against known points before handing over.
About the author
This guide was written by the Birdi team. Birdi (birdi.io) is a geospatial AI workspace that mining, quarry and construction teams use to share drone surveys, surfaces and site data in one map. We checked every product fact against each vendor's own website or documentation on October 7, 2026.
Related reading
- Contour lines explained: what contours show and how they are used.
- Digital elevation models: what a DEM is and how it is made.
- GIS for mining teams: working with site data without a GIS specialist.
- Geospatial software for mining: the wider set of tools for mine teams.
Sources
Independent
- U.S. Geological Survey. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, February 2026. https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/
Vendor documentation (read October 7, 2026 unless stated)
- Dassault Systèmes. "GEOVIA Surpac modules overview" and GEOVIA blog on creating DTMs from point clouds. https://blog.3ds.com/brands/geovia/
- Maptek. Vulcan and PointStudio help: triangulations, LAS import and file formats. https://help.maptek.com/
- Deswik. "Deswik.Spatial." https://www.deswik.com/products/spatial
- Birdi Help Center. "What outputs are available for export from processing?" https://help.birdi.io/en/articles/14492980
- Birdi Help Center. "How we handle coordinate systems, GCPs and geoids in Birdi." https://help.birdi.io/en/articles/11430561
- Birdi Help Center. "How to create contours from a DEM in Birdi." https://help.birdi.io/en/articles/16387259
- Birdi. "Pricing." https://www.birdi.io/pricing
- Propeller. "Mining." https://www.propelleraero.com/mining/
- DroneDeploy Help Center. "Importing data into AutoCAD Civil 3D." https://help.dronedeploy.com/hc/en-us/articles/1500004861781
- Pix4D Support. Outputs for PIX4Dmapper and PIX4Dsurvey; "Pricing" (read September 21, 2026). https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/360034534111
