Hexagon’s Mining division and IDS GeoRadar, a Hexagon company, have jointly announced what they say is the mining industry’s first straightforward integration of systems for safety and radar-based slope stability hazards.

The single platform is part of the newly released HxGN MineProtect Collision Avoidance System (CAS) 4.6. It means mines can now receive real-time equipment visualisation with timely alerts about hazardous areas for people and machinery. Workers and equipment are protected from injury-threatening events by being forewarned of no-go-zones.

No-go zones are identified in IDS GeoRadar’s IBIS Guardian software, which creates geofenced zones and hazard maps, and is correlated with radar alarms. Guardian’s integration with CAS 4.6 and complementary HxGN MineProtect solutions, Personal Alert and Tracking Radar, ensures that alarms are automatically triggered when a no-go zone is approached.

“The additional layer of information created by this integration means better risk evaluation and is one more way to ensure everyone gets home safely,” said Nick Hare, President of Hexagon’s Mining division. “It’s also a great example of our autonomous connected ecosystems strategy – connecting previously siloed processes in one platform that will save lives.”

IDS GeoRadar President, Alberto Bicci, said: “Guardian can now improve risk management being integrated with the HxGN MineProtect portfolio. Vehicles and machinery are visualised in real time on the 3D radar displacement map and consequently traffic management, based on slope hazards, can be further optimised through real-time monitoring data from our complementary solutions, Hydra-X, IBIS-FM and IBIS-ArcSAR.”