Mining surveys
Control, set-out and QA frameworks for Pilbara mine and NPI works.
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Western Range Water Supply, Storage Tanks & NPI Surveying
Survey control, construction set-out, machine control support and survey documentation prepared for review for the Western Range NPI hub supporting water supply, tank farms, pipework and Pilbara infrastructure works.
The Western Range project required Noble Surveys to coordinate survey coverage across water supply pipelines, storage tanks and broader non-process infrastructure. Working alongside the Rio Tinto delivery team, we supplied control networks, construction set-out, machine control workflows and as-built documentation prepared for review so SMP, civil and electrical contractors could stay aligned while pipework interfaces were measured for fabrication and installation.
Survey crews were rostered between Paraburdoo and the broader Pilbara corridor, aligning with Pilbara project requirements so duplicate control, QA logs and reporting were available when additional workfronts opened.
Project imagery
Survey crews supported pipelines, tank farms, laydowns, pipework interfaces and SMP installations. These images capture portions of the Western Range NPI hub.
Scope of work
Survey coverage for Pilbara NPI delivery
Western Range demanded simultaneous support for SMP, civil and utilities contractors. Noble Surveys maintained a single source of truth for control and documentation so every workfront referenced the same survey records.
- •High-accuracy control network tying water supply, tank farms and NPI laydowns back to MGA2020 and site grid.
- •Construction set-out for pipelines, storage tanks, pump stations and structural steel across multiple pads.
- •Machine control model preparation, change tracking and on-site uploads for earthworks and trenching teams.
- •As-built capture for pipelines, structures, roads and services to keep superintendent evidence current.
- •Conformance checks for bolt patterns, tank foundations, pipe supports and interface points.
- •Pipework measurement and alignment to support fabrication and installation, including tank interfaces, pipe spool positioning and construction tolerances.
- •Coordinated survey coverage for simultaneous SMP, civil and electrical workfronts.
Survey methods & technology
Technology that kept workfronts aligned
Field crews combined GNSS, total stations, digital levels and model management to keep water supply, tank, pipework and utility works tied back to the agreed reference system.
- •Dual Trimble GNSS base stations and RTK rovers to service spaced-out workfronts.
- •Trimble total stations and digital levels for tank, pipe and structural alignment checks.
- •Machine control workflows integrating LandXML/TTM files and change logs for contractors.
- •Pipework measurement and alignment checks to support fabrication, installation and interface control.
- •Field-to-office data management so revisions and redlines reach every crew without rework.
Reporting & deliverables
Documentation prepared for review
Reporting packages helped contractors and Rio Tinto stakeholders review hold points, model updates and QA evidence without searching through scattered files.
- •Weekly coordination notes summarising set-out requests, capture priorities and look-ahead dependencies.
- •LandXML, DWG and machine control files prepared for review before being loaded to plant.
- •As-built reports and conformance packs documenting pipelines, tank foundations and utility tie-ins.
- •Volume reports, surface comparisons and cut/fill checks for earthworks progress tracking.
- •Hold-point documentation for bolt checks, hydrotest boundaries and civil pours.
- •Pipework alignment records and conformance notes for fabrication and installation interfaces.
- •Consolidated survey registers to support superintendent, HOTO and asset-owner requirements.
Project challenges
Coordinating survey across expanding NPI hubs
Western Range demanded flexible survey resourcing and clear communication so every crew received current information despite scope changes.
- •Multiple contractors working across water supply corridors, storage tanks and utility buildings simultaneously.
- •Need to integrate new infrastructure with existing Rio Tinto assets while working around active site operations.
- •Remote Pilbara terrain requiring planned mobilisation, duplicate control and clear access sequencing.
- •Design updates and scope changes that demanded rapid model management and survey redistribution.
- •Strict QA expectations for welded connections, tank plates and pipework interfaces.
Outcome
Survey support kept construction set-out, machine control loads and as-built records aligned across water supply and storage infrastructure. Consistent reporting helped contractors progress hold points and supported Rio Tinto with documentation prepared for review.
Related services & region
Connect Western Range outcomes to your project
Explore the service lines and Pilbara coverage that supported this project and can be applied to similar mining or infrastructure packages.
Construction surveys
Set-out and documentation for SMP, civil and utilities contractors.
Explore Construction surveys→Machine control
Model preparation and updates for earthworks and trenching crews.
Explore Machine control→As-built surveys
Deliverables prepared for review across tanks, pipelines and utility services.
Explore As-built surveys→Pilbara project example
Western Range demonstrates how Noble Surveys supports Pilbara construction projects with control networks, construction set-out, pipework alignment, machine control workflows and as-built documentation prepared for review.
View Pilbara coverage→Need construction survey support for Pilbara NPI works?
Send through project locations, staging plans, control requirements, pipework interfaces and reporting expectations. Noble Surveys can help align construction survey crews, machine control support, pipework measurement, set-out records and as-built documentation for non-process infrastructure packages.