Gravel Pit Development

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 At Upland we pride ourselves in providing a complete service to our aggregate clients to ensure a superior product in a timely and cost effective manner. We provide services to develop aggregate on both private and crown land. To achieve this we engage in aggregate exploration, aggregate inventory & quality analysis, environmental assessments, topographical land surveying, GIS & CAD mapping, First Nations Consultation, Land Administration, and Electronic applications to AEP. 

Aggregate Exploration (Private & Crown Land) – Design and implementing field sampling programs.  Work with excavators or drilling rigs to complete the sampling. Complete a comprehensive report of results with sampling logs, cross sections, and volume calculations.  GIS mapping of proposed area of interest. 

Subsurface Modelling - An integral part of any mining activity is to quantify the below ground resource formations.  We utilize the exploration information (logs) with the aid of computer software to model the layers and formations of materials below ground.  From these models we can determine excavation depths, quantities and any interception with groundwater. 

Aggregate Land Review (ALR) Applications (Crown Land) – Applications to AEP for review of potential aggregate areas and availability for development.

Surface Materials Exploration (SME) Applications (Crown Land) – Applications for exploration authorizations with AEP.

Surface Materials Lease (SML) Applications (Crown Land) – Based on field testing results, pit boundary is designed to minimize environmental impact and to ensure pit operations will not conflict with other stakeholders.  At this stage, access planning is also incorporated if required.

Conservation Operation & Reclamation Plan (CORP) (Crown Land) - A comprehensive report for surface material leases   as per governmental standards to address existing site conditions, environmental concerns, operational methods and rehabilitation strategies.

Pit Development, Operations & Annual Reporting (Crown Land) – At Upland we offers an ongoing service to clients in monitoring pit development and operations to ensure consistency with the conservation and reclamation business plan.  In addition we conduct Annual Returns and Annual Reports on active pits to reflect operational changes and extracted volumes for government requirements.

Pit Registration, Activities Plan (Private Land)  - Private Land pits that exceed 5 hectares must be registered with Alberta Environment.  Similar to a CORP, a comprehensive report is compiled to meet the standards as set out in the Code of Practice.  Upland also provides services in completing the 5 year reports and Final Reclamation Reports for private land pits. 

Pit Reclamation Cost Analysis  - We complete a cost analysis for reclamation costs based on the current or forecasted pit conditions depending on the client needs.  These costs can be used for pit security bonds and/or accounting needs.

Reclamation Certificate Applications  - We complete a site survey & soil analysis of the final reclaimed area and complete an application to the crown for reclamation status.

Volume Surveys  – RTK GPS and Drones are used to calculate volumes of stockpiles and excavated areas for inventory and reporting.   Upland is at the leading edge of technology and utilizes a high precision RTK GPS system coupled with the use of a Drone to collect photography and later used for photogrammetry in order to derive at very accurate and precise topography and aerial images.  This information is processed and used to calculate volumes and perform various 2D and 3D measurements.