3D Laser Mapping’s SiteMonitor system has been installed at Newmont Mining Corporation’s Minera Yanacocha gold mine in northern Peru. The mine monitoring system assists geotechnical engineers predict potentially dangerous pit movements by using laser scanners to detect relatively miniscule movements in the pit face. The SiteMontitor system is being used to monitor the north, east and south face of La Quinua Pit at the Yanachocha mine. The system, which is located in a custom built enclosure to provide protection against the heavy rain and thunderstorms prevalent in the region, remotely collects sub-centimetre accurate measurements around the clock. The data is wirelessly transmitted to an onsite central server where surveyors and geotechnical engineers can track movements in the wall to predict where and when a fall may occur.

SiteMonitor uses advanced laser scanning technology with powerful, simple to use software. The data captured by the laser scanner is analysed using 3D Laser Mapping’s SiteMonitor analysis software, to track and compare measurements over time. This provides early warning of movement, and therefore, potential dangerous falls that may impact on the day to day operation of the mine, cause damage to equipment or even injury to personnel operating in the area. Performance of the SiteMonitor system is also continuously monitored by technicians at 3D Laser Mapping’s global operations centre in the UK. Using the latest web services experienced personnel can remotely access the millions of collected measurements to ensure data consistency and system performance.