Objectives of the service
Biomass facility operators rely on manual inspection to estimate stockpile volumes and detect temperature anomalies, which is time-consuming, hazardous, and often inaccurate. These limitations affect fuel planning, operational efficiency, and safety.
The AIMS (Achieving Innovative Measures in Biomass Systems) service provides an automated monitoring solution using drones equipped with optical and thermal sensors. The system performs scheduled flights, collects imagery, and processes it into 3D models, volumetric estimates, and temperature maps. The results are delivered as structured inventory data through a secure, outbound-only interface, allowing operators to use the information directly without integrating into internal systems.
The activity focused on validating that this approach delivers reliable and repeatable results under real operational conditions. Testing was carried out with energy utilities to confirm measurement accuracy, system robustness, and practical usability. The outcome is a validated foundation for pilot deployment and further commercial rollout.
Users and their needs
The AIMS service targets biomass-based energy operators and infrastructure stakeholders responsible for managing large fuel stockpiles.
These users are responsible for fuel planning, operational safety, and regulatory reporting, all of which depend on accurate and timely data.
Key user needs:
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Reliable and repeatable biomass volume measurements
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Early detection of temperature anomalies and fire risks
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Reduction of hazardous manual inspections
Challenges for the activity:
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Achieving sufficient measurement accuracy under real-world conditions (dust, smoke, varying pile geometry)
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Delivering outputs in a format usable without system integration
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Operating within evolving drone regulations
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Ensuring consistent performance across repeated missions
Service/ system concept
The AIMS service provides operators with reliable, repeatable information about biomass stockpiles, including volume estimates and temperature conditions. The system delivers structured “inventory state” outputs that can be used directly for fuel planning, safety monitoring, and operational decision-making.
Key capabilities include:
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Daily measurement of biomass volume
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Detection of temperature anomalies and potential hotspots
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Automated data collection without manual inspection
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Secure delivery of structured data without system integration
In simple terms, the system works by sending a drone to fly over the biomass piles at scheduled times. The drone takes pictures and thermal images, which are then processed to calculate how much material is present and whether any areas are overheating. The results are compiled into a clear report and sent securely to the operator.
At a high level, the system consists of three parts:
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A drone that collects visual and thermal data
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A processing system that converts images into usable information
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A secure interface that delivers results to the user
This architecture ensures reliable data collection, automated analysis, and safe delivery of actionable information.
Space Added Value
The AIMS service uses space assets in the form of GNSS Galileo, to support accurate drone positioning and repeatable flight paths over biomass facilities.
These navigation signals enable the drone to follow consistent routes across missions, ensuring that data is collected from the same perspectives each time. This repeatability is critical for producing reliable volume estimates and detecting changes in biomass stockpiles over time.
Compared to current methods, which rely on manual inspection or pilot-controlled drone flights, the use of satellite navigation allows for automated and standardised data collection. This improves consistency, reduces human error, and enables regular monitoring without requiring on-site personnel.
The added value of combining GNSS with automated drone operations lies in the ability to deliver consistent, high-frequency measurements that are not feasible with manual workflows. This supports better decision-making, improves safety, and enables continuous monitoring of biomass conditions, which is not achievable with traditional inspection methods.
Current Status
The activity has completed validation activities with Danish energy utilities. Multiple drone flights were conducted at operational biomass facilities during both the main activity and final validation phase, confirming volumetric deviation below 10% and reliable thermal hotspot detection under real conditions.
A secure outbound data pipeline was developed, including an application programming interface integrated with mission data and validated from a security perspective.
The activity is now transitioning toward pilot deployment, focusing on extended repeatability testing, validation of end-to-end processing and delivery timing, and deployment within customer IT environments.
