OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
AUTOMATION AND COMPLEMENTARY DATA When implementing a mine monitoring system, the main goal is to gather different types of information to facilitate observing and analysing areas with differing levels of risk. Often these devices complement each other – such as a radar sensor and an optical (total station) sensor – and a multidisciplinary approach facilitates a more holistic analysis opportunity. Automation has brought numerous
improvements to mine monitoring systems, with a primary benefit being reducing the amount of time staff spend in the field. Prior to automated systems, data typically had to be measured or downloaded manually, requiring staff to be exposed to mine operations on a regular basis. As mining operations are commonly quite dispersed, this process was also extremely time consuming. Automation has both improved personal safety and virtually eliminated fieldwork to retrieve data. In addition, monitoring with automated sensors allows data acquisition frequencies to be based on project requirements, rather than balancing the needs of what is required versus what is practical. Typically, mine monitoring systems encompass optical measurement equipment, customised remote power and communications systems, cyclone-rated instrument shelters, as well as a host of other sensors. Depending on the situation, many different types of geotechnical, weather, or structural monitoring sensors
UPG supports multiple systems at numerous mines in Western Australia
may share the same infrastructure backbone. “Although it is fair to say that all mines
likely require some form of monitoring at some point, the vast majority of deployed systems are typically installed on open pit operations, with the geotechnical engineering challenges at each individual operation determining the specifics,” explains Wilson. “Physical characteristics of the mine would then further dictate the extent, frequency and nature of monitoring needed. Tis ultimately determines the implemented systems and sensors.”
Sometimes surrounding areas not
directly within the ore extraction area form part of the wider context of monitoring requirements, for example groundwater monitoring. Australian mines are also not limited to a single location, and it is common for a single mine to have multiple mining areas that can be separated by large distances of 10-20km or more. Automated systems use existing site- wide communications such as Wi-Fi meshes or LTE systems for data transfer, but where this is not available, bespoke systems are provided by the dealer to facilitate communications. One modern approach to data storage and transfer is to use the Trimble Settop M1 total station controller, which stores round measurement data locally. Tis data is then automatically downloaded by the software as it becomes available, resulting in one of the most robust solutions by ensuring that round measurement data is secure, even if the communication system is offline.
Trimble technology in use at a mine in New Zealand
26
www.engineerlive.com
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE Trimble’s monitoring portfolio is continually expanding. Te firm’s core products such as total stations, GNSS receivers, office and field monitoring software and monitoring controllers have formed the mainstay of mine monitoring in the past. However, support for third- party sensors in the Trimble 4D Control monitoring software, as well as partnerships with other significant equipment suppliers, has seen typical mine monitoring
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
