# Measuring a pile on a hill **URL:** \ **Category:** PIX4Dmapper\ **Created:** [January 25, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/measuring-a-pile-on-a-hill/21196 "2022-01-25T17:34:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ben1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@ben1](https://community.pix4d.com/u/ben1)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/measuring-a-pile-on-a-hill/21196/1 "2022-01-25T17:34:44Z")
I am attempting to measure a pile that was put in a hole in the side of a hill. So Part of a hill was dug out, that material was crushed and put back in the hole. So 3 sides of the pile butt up to a hill. I want to measure the volume, but PIX4D measures from the side of the hill and not the bottom of the pile. How can I add a plane for the bottom of the pile and have PIX4D measure from the plane to the top of the pile? ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_K](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/mike_k/32/4697_2.png) [@Mike\_K](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Mike_K)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 8:28pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/measuring-a-pile-on-a-hill/21196/2 "2022-01-25T20:28:05Z")
Hi Ben1, PIX4Dmapper allows you to choose different base surfaces for this type of application. If the boundary is partially hidden, it is recommended to select: - **Align with Lowest Point** , if the terrain is relatively flat. If the boundary is completely hidden, e.g. in the case of a box full of a material, it is recommended to select: - **Custom Altitude** , if the base surface is relatively flat and its altitude is known. If the vertices of the base surface are known: - **Import base surface** , following: [How to import a Volume into Volumes](https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/204836569-How-to-import-a-Volume-into-Volumes#gsc.tab=0). > **[Which Base Surface is recommended for the Volume Calculation?](https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/217114246-Which-Base-Surface-is-recommended-for-the-Volume-Calculation)** > > Depending on the type of the stockpile that is about to be computed, different options for the base surface are recommended. There are two general categories for the stockpiles: > > Stockpiles whose e... ---
**Author:** ![ben1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@ben1](https://community.pix4d.com/u/ben1)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/measuring-a-pile-on-a-hill/21196/3 "2022-01-26T15:58:11Z")
I don’t have a base surface, the align with lowest point and custom altitude create a level plane at a certain elevation. I want to create a plane that is not level or at one elevation. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_K](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/pix4d/user_avatar/community.pix4d.com/mike_k/32/4697_2.png) [@Mike\_K](https://community.pix4d.com/u/Mike_K)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2022, 6:39pm UTC](https://community.pix4d.com/t/measuring-a-pile-on-a-hill/21196/4 "2022-01-26T18:39:30Z")
Hi ben1, You can add a 3D base surface (shapefile) to calculate the volume. This 3D polygon can be at any angle and at any elevation. The article below describes how to import the surface. Ultimately you need to create that surface first in order to import it into Mapper. > **[How to import a volume into Volumes](https://support.pix4d.com/hc/en-us/articles/204836569-How-to-import-a-volume-into-Volumes#gsctab=0)** > >   > > Important: > > In order to import a volume into Volumes, the dense point cloud and the digital surface model (DSM) should be computed. > A volume should contain 3D surfaces to be imported as a shape...