Abstract: Rapid development of light and small UAV is analyzed through the hardware systems, flight control systems, measuring instruments and data processing software.The application status of open-pit mining area monitoring and vegetation greening, topographic and geomorphological measurement and hazard source identification, earthwork measurement are analyzed.It is considered that battery life is insufficient, accuracy of single sensor survey is low and data compatibility of each platform was poor.Finally, application prospects of light and small UAV in open-pit mines life cycle are proposed, including mining area survey and planning design, production planning and site management, complex topographic survey and engineering measurement, safety supervision and monitoring, control of mining ecological environment and pit management and other aspects.