Archives: Mine surveying

The pressure hull of the second UNEXMIN UX-1 robot – UX-1b – has recently been produced, with mechanical parts put together and pressure tested, in Finland, as part of the Tampere University of Technology’s (TUT) work. In late February it was on its way to Porto, Portugal, where the technical teams (INESC TEC, UPM, UNIM)[…]

Anglo American, in its 2018 annual report, says its use of drones for safety, surveying and security is continuing to expand as it looks to remote-control more of its mining activities. The company has used drones attached to manned aerial-reconnaissance planes for many years and, today, considers itself an industry leader when it comes to[…]

Mining3 says it and The University of Queensland, in conjunction with the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), are currently in the process of building prototype autonomous sensors for the constant monitoring of tailings and spoil storage facilities. The Australia-based company said: “Tailings impoundments are one of the largest man-made structures on earth and ensuring[…]

Inmarsat says it will partner with Knight Piésold UK to deliver highly accurate tailings dam monitoring, analysis and real-time management capabilities for the mining industry. The collaboration agreement with Knight Piésold, a member of the international geotechnical, tailings management and engineering consulting group, will combine Inmarsat’s satellite-enabled Internet of Things (IoT) solution, with Knight Piésold’s[…]

Exyn Technologies says it has signed up Dundee Precious Metals as the first commercial customer for its Autonomy Aerial Robots (A3Rs). Dundee will use the fully autonomous aerial system for data collection in GPS-denied environments to advance its initiatives focused on the digitisation and automation of its underground mining operations, according to Exyn. Theophile Yameogo,[…]

Aachen-based AiNT develops measurement systems based on Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). It recently developed the drill core analyser CorA for integral elemental analysis of drill cores extracted during exploration of mineral deposits. The neutron activation analysis allows fast determination of integral elements in the core. The system can be used in drill core, drill cuttings[…]

Bentley Systems, the global provider of comprehensive software solutions for advancing the design, construction, and operations of infrastructure, presented SYNCHRO XR, its app for immersively visualising 4D construction digital twins with the new Microsoft HoloLens 2, which Microsoft announced during a press conference at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This technology has obvious potential in[…]

The industry desperately needs more reliable and accurate sensors and technology solutions for tailings dams, not just general plans to do things better under existing codes of practice. Before this years Brumadinho disaster at Vale’s Córrego do Feijão iron ore mine in Brazil, on November 5, 2015, the Samarco Fundão tailings dam collapsed, releasing over[…]

Alpha Unmanned Systems, a Spain-based designer and manufacturer of remotely piloted gasoline-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopters, has been selected to participate in Inmarsat´s UAV Pop-up lab. Alongside six other UAV companies, Alpha will execute a range of missions using Inmarsat´s global satellite network, “enabling beyond line of sight operations and global resilient command and[…]

Rio Tinto has today disclosed detailed information on each of its global tailings facilities and published both the company’s Group Procedure and its Standard for ‘Management of tailings and water storage facilities’ at www.riotinto.com/tailings. Rio Tinto has 100 tailings facilities across 32 sites, and has a further 36 tailings facilities that are closed or under[…]