Birdi’s Stockpile model detects the stockpiles on your orthophoto and adds them to your map as volume annotations, but volumes are not calculated automatically. To get volumetric results, calculate the detected stockpiles against a selected Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
New to stockpile detection? Start with How to detect stockpiles automatically with Birdi’s Stockpile model.
Before You Start
Ensure you have:
AI Detect – Stockpile results from the Birdi Stockpile model visible on your map
At least one processed DEM available in the project (e.g. DTM, DSM)
Stockpile annotations selected in Volumetric Mode
How to calculate volumes from AI-Detected stockpiles
1. Select the Stockpile Annotations
Hold Shift on your keyboard
Click to select all stockpile annotations you want to calculate
You will see the annotation count appear in the right-hand panel
2. Choose a Volume DEM
In the right-hand panel, locate Volume DEM
Select the DEM you want to calculate volumes against (e.g. site DTM)
💡 Tip: The accuracy of your volumes depends on the quality and relevance of the selected DEM.
3. Select a Base Calculation Method
Under Base method, choose how the base surface is defined. For example:
Linear Fit – commonly used for stockpiles on relatively even ground
4. Calculate Volumes
Click Calculate
Birdi will calculate the volume for each selected stockpile
Volume labels (m³) will appear directly on the map
5. Assign a Material for Tonnage
With your stockpiles still selected:
Locate the Material selector in the right-hand panel
Choose a material from the library, or add a custom one with your own Material name and Density (t/m³)
Tonnage is calculated for every selected stockpile
Because your stockpiles are already Shift-selected from the volume calculation, one material choice covers the whole set — handy when you've detected a dozen piles of the same product.
After Calculation: What You Can Do Next
Once volumes are calculated, stockpile annotations can be:
Renamed - Update stockpile names for clearer identification (e.g. by material or location)
Weighed — Assign a material to report tonnage alongside cubic metres
Styled - Change colours and visual styles to match reporting or classification needs
Used in Reports - Include calculated volumes directly in reporting workflows
Exported - Export volumetric data using Table View
For step-by-step instructions, see: 👉 How to access and use Table View for volumetric layers
Notes & Best Practices
Volumes are not automatically detected — calculation must be manually triggered
You can re-run calculations at any time using a different DEM or base method
Multiple stockpiles can be calculated in bulk using Shift-select