Vertical mining using mechanised raise climbers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nThe safety and efficiency impacts of these solutions are no less dramatic than the innovations themselves.<\/p>\n
Workers are ultimately safer. Technology takes the risk of the operator. By removing the worker from harm\u2019s way, we remove the potential for serious injury.<\/p>\n
Productivity improves not only at the point the innovation is introduced, but it compounds along the value chain until it ultimately affects tonnes per day and grams per tonne.<\/p>\n
We recognise that these innovations have the adaptability to go \u2018beyond mining\u2019 to influence the digital future of other industries, including oil and gas, power generation, and construction.<\/p>\n
Underground mine rescue<\/h3>\n Technology can now extend the reach and range of underground response to rescue and emergency.<\/p>\n
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Responders are safer, can operate underground for longer periods of time, and can more rapidly identify the situational details that dictate whether a rescue or recovery is required.<\/p>\n
Safesight has created a new set of tools for mine rescue and underground emergency response that applies this technology to create an adaptable toolkit that allows responders to meet the needs of an ever-changing situational dynamic.<\/p>\n
After working with and consulting with experts in the field, we created a suite of innovative solutions that can adapt to an evolving emergency in the future of mining.<\/p>\n
Our tools provide remote HD video, thermal vision, and gas levels that can be delivered in whatever format the situation demands.<\/p>\n
The HD video can be used in tight spaces or areas where it is unsafe for responders to enter, such as collapsed areas or where ground conditions will not allow responders access.<\/p>\n
The thermal vision can ensure sight when smoke or dust are creating zero visibility from a fire, blackout, or fall of ground.<\/p>\n
The gas sensor technology can reach almost anywhere beyond the responder operating point to quickly determine breathing conditions and potentially conserve precious oxygen supplies.<\/p>\n
Remote fire response can confirm fire status or remotely deploy a fire hose and water supressing curtains to help responders safely battle active fires underground.<\/p>\n
Our plug-and-play design offers the capability to quickly create the right response mechanism in what can be a rapidly-changing scenario.<\/p>\n
HD, thermal and gas sensor technology can go from a drone to any other available piece of equipment. In under two minutes, ground-based response can be converted to a HD, thermal and gas sensing utility vehicle.<\/p>\n
This level of flexibility ensures that critical rescue data to make effective response decisions can be gathered in almost every possible scenario. In each of these scenarios, responders are kept out of harm\u2019s way and, where human risk is required, it is done with the maximum amount of data intelligence to mitigate the risk.<\/p>\n
It is not difficult to see the application of these same capabilities in fire and policing, pipe inspection, structural assessment, and search and rescue in collapsed structures.<\/p>\n
Shaft measurement and vertical mining<\/h3>\n Why send people into shafts and unknown underground cavities when the technology exists to take their place? Underground technology for the future of mining now makes shaft management safer, more accurate, and eliminates outages created by reactive maintenance.<\/p>\n
Types of underground operational arteries that have a dramatic impact on a mine site\u2019s productivity and performance include the shaft \u2013 the principle mover of workers and material \u2013 and passes \u2013 which are the laundry shoots that move precious metals from one level to another and ultimately to their destination in crushers and mills.<\/p>\n
When these arteries are obstructed, materials stop moving and the value chain underground comes to a standstill. By taking extended periods to measure, manage, and maintain them, you slow down the operational value chain and affect a primary metric for any operational site tonnage per day.<\/p>\n
Shaft measurement and management can be transformed. SafeSight has developed a set of tools and processes for the future of mining. They automate the shaft measurement process to create a new digital asset or digital twin of the shaft and all its compartments to 1mm of accuracy. This can be done well, removing workers from traditional high risk in shaft measurement activities and, in some situations, eliminating live work for remote data gathering.<\/p>\n
Traditional exercises, such as guide alignment which can take extensive manpower and effort, can now be repaired and replaced with digital guide alignment. This can be done in hours as opposed to days and captured in a way to support regression measurement overtime.<\/p>\n
Mechanised rail climber development<\/h3>\n Mechanised rail climber (MRC) development is often used to develop and manage critical passes that can be used to move materials or create needed ventilation. Although extremely agile and cost effective, this approach had its safety challenges.<\/p>\n
SafeSight\u2019s MRC rail runner was developed to remove the inherent risks from MRC development. This autonomous rail climber can not only assess the development with high-definition video but can simultaneously assess gas conditions in the raise and create a 3D model of the raise, removing the need to put survey teams at risk in measuring an area of unsecured ground.<\/p>\n
This technology expedites the development process by achieving multiple outcomes at the same time, including:<\/p>\n
\nHighlighting any installation drilling or structural issues;<\/li>\n Identifying any peak gas levels; and<\/li>\n Ensuring that the orientation of the rays and the rail align with the development plan.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nMore importantly, all of these outcomes are achieved while keeping workers and supervisors out of the development area until it is confirmed that it is safe and secure to enter.<\/p>\n
This is lifesaving technology that removes workers from harm\u2019s way, while at the same time creating a more productive development cycle that can demonstrate compliance. It is not hard to understand why governments are moving to revise health and safety regulations for the future of mining.<\/p>\n
Underground mapping for safety in mining<\/h3>\n 3D mapping capability underground can now be completed three times faster than traditional methods. In-motion LiDAR mapping is cheaper, faster, and safer than any traditional 3D modelling solution today. Its flexibility allows it to capture data by air, ground, cable and as a handheld unit. For the future of mining, this means better decision-making data for planners and engineers as they look to maximise production potential.<\/p>\n
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SafeSight\u2019s SafeScanner is a lightweight, in-motion scanner that can collect data in several configurations to meet the needs of the moment, all while keeping operators far from harm\u2019s way. Operators can use underground drones, remote ground units, and handheld carry or cabled configurations to collect any data anywhere.<\/p>\n
Impacts and implications are realised immediately and range from productivity to profitability.<\/p>\n
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LiDAR mapping of 3D models takes about 25% of the time of traditional mapping when using traditional modelling technology.<\/p>\n
The ability for our technology to reach deeply into the target area means 100% of the area is digitally captured, compared to about 70% using traditional methods.<\/p>\n
Post-data collection processing on a surface is not required or can be reduced from hours to minutes.<\/p>\n
In summary, faster and more accurate decision data can be captured while keeping workers out of harm\u2019s way.<\/p>\n
The ripple in the value chain is significant. 3D modelling data is used in the post-blast reconciliation process to determine if the target has been fully harvested of its precious metals. Taking too much material can dilute the quality of the ore, but taking too little could mean that valuable materials get left behind.<\/p>\n
Our LiDAR solutions ensure accurate data for optimal extraction goes directly to the grams of ore per tonne of materials excavated, which translate to the site\u2019s bottom line.<\/p>\n
Technology and technologists have come of age and are turning their attention to underground applications to not only make a deep impact on how things are done in the mining sector but to create a seismic shift in levels of worker safety. The only real challenge left in the future of mining is acceptance and adoption by the industry itself.<\/p>\n
Please note, this article will also appear in the fourteenth edition of our\u00a0quarterly publication<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Discover how SafeSight’s remote inspection and monitoring solutions can improve efficiency and safety in mining.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":32944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24502],"tags":[24203,529,24208,24495],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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