Tag Archives: underground mapping

Sandvik reinforces autonomous vehicle navigation with mapping solution

10th August 2022Automation, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining softwareAutoMine Mapping Solution, mine automation, mine mapping, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, Ty Osborne, underground mappingDaniel Gleeson

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has introduced the AutoMine® Mapping Solution, an innovative new product designed to, it says, maximise productivity and improve safety of autonomous vehicle navigation in underground mining operations through the use of mapped data.

The AutoMine Mapping Solution is Sandvik’s next generation product that enables a vehicle to safely record an underground 3D environment with a mine mapping tool, and convert 3D maps to 2D. Faster configuration, and the possibility to continue to operate other equipment within the area while it is being mapped, increases productivity and efficiency, it says.

Innovative technology within the solution reduces the time and cost involved in manual mapping and enables a safer, more efficient autonomous underground operating environment. It can be used on all types of underground equipment (LHDs, trucks and drills), eliminating the need for dedicated equipment and resource to map the area.

“With AutoMine Mapping Solution, we are progressing to the next generation of innovative automation solutions, bringing new technologies to the underground mining industry which are designed to maximise our customers’ productivity and safety,” Ty Osborne, Product Line Manager Underground Automation Sales at Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions, says.

“AutoMine Mapping Solution is easy to use and turns real-time data from the mine into 3D models, providing a clear customer advantage in the planning and prioritising of their automated operations and increasing production control.” says Osborne.

The solution will be available to order later in 2022.

Maptek scanners, software boosts efficiency and safety at Kirkland Lake’s Fosterville mine

3rd December 2020IoT, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining safety, Mining services, Mining software, Precious metalsCorey McKenzie, Fosterville, gold, Kirkland Lake Gold, Maptek, mine surveying, PointStudio, scanning, Sentry, SR3, underground mapping, ZEBDaniel Gleeson

Maptek’s underground laser scanners and software have been helping geology and geotechnical engineering teams save time and monitor safety at Kirkland Lake Gold’s Fosterville mine in Victoria, Australia.

At the underground mine, the geology team use two SR3 laser scanners and the PointStudio software for structural mapping and identifying structures.

“They primarily focus on scanning the ore drive development headings and then analyse the data and do the mapping in PointStudio,” Fosterville Project Rock Mechanics Engineer, Corey McKenzie, says.

The Maptek SR3 is a dedicated underground laser scanner, with a scan window of 130° vertically and 360° horizontally for capturing roofs and walls in tunnels and underground drives.

With fast accurate sensing and tailored mount accessories, the SR3 can be operated remotely from any web-enabled device and combines well with modelling software PointStudio for improving overall productivity and safety underground, Maptek says.

“PointStudio has a lot of neat tools,” McKenzie says. “Smart Query is useful for extracting joint set data, and the Distance for Objects feature can be used for fibrecrete thickness analysis.”

The geotechnical team uses ZEB scanners for convergence checks and it is, Maptek says, excited about the potential of Maptek workflows to streamline and save time in convergence monitoring.

The Workflow Editor incorporates software menu items, command line executables and scripting capabilities with Maptek Workbench tools and custom components to automate processes.

McKenzie says cloud-to-cloud comparison using laser scan data in PointStudio is all about safety.

“We want to know if the walls or backs are moving,” McKenzie said. “If we notice a spot that is starting to deform, we scan it more regularly so we’ve got that constant update of data and can track how it’s moving and the rate of deformation. We can then make decisions about rehabilitation. And we also need to know when our ground support capacity is going to be consumed.”

When PointStudio was introduced at the site this year, McKenzie found it relatively easy to learn, appreciating the visual layout of the options along the top ribbon, Maptek said.

The Fosterville geotechnical team is looking to expand its usage of PointStudio and expects the new scanline mapping tool in the latest version to help rockmass classification, according to the company.

“We’re just starting to explore the geotech/rock mechanics aspects,” McKenzie said. “Maptek is always willing to answer questions.”

The site also recently completed a trial of Maptek monitoring solution, Sentry.

“Now that we’ve tested Sentry and know its capabilities, we’ll be confident down the track if there’s an area that we want to monitor more closely,” McKenzie concluded.

Getac helps Emesent tackle mining’s underground mapping challenge

17th August 2020Communications in mining, IoT, Mine surveying, Mining equipment, Mining servicesDrones, Emesent, Getac, Getac V110, Hovermap, notebook, Stefan Hrabar, underground mappingDaniel Gleeson

Getac’s V110 fully rugged convertible notebook has helped drone autonomy and mapping developer, Emesent, on its mission to provide mining customers with an all-inclusive solution to map unchartered territories in underground mines, the Taiwan-based company says.

Launched in November 2018, Emesent was on the lookout for a device able to withstand extreme mine conditions and to complement its Hovermap smart mobile scanning unit and drone, Getac explained.

“The harsh working conditions presented in underground mining meant that the device had to be rugged enough to withstand extreme environments, and be compact enough to be easily carried around,” it said.

This is where the Getac V110 convertible came in.

The rugged device can be used as a drone control platform thanks to several features, the company says.

“It can easily transform between a display notebook and a tablet computer, depending on where or when it is used,” it said.

“Additionally, its weight of 2.1 kg and dimension of 39 mm, makes it compact and lightweight enough for users to carry around without much effort.

“The V110 is also made from high quality magnesium alloy, with an advanced rugged polymer in areas of less impact and rubberised absorption polymer at the main points of contact, making it drop-resistant. The fully rugged convertible features a hot-swappable dual battery design, allowing for uninterrupted battery life. In addition to the key features, Getac’s V110 comes with a full-size waterproof membrane keyboard and red backlight, allowing users to type accurately even in the dimmest conditions. The device also features flash storage and responsive graphics, making it an excellent convertible notebook.”

With Getac’s V110, Emesent was able to provide mining companies with a rugged device that could complement its product operating in challenging environments, Getac said.

Dr Stefan Hrabar, CEO and Co-Founder of Emesent, said: “Safety and operational hazards at workplaces are important factors for mining companies, and we want to supply them with a comprehensive solution that not only enables them to operate but also improves efficiency without hassle.

“Harsh conditions in mining meant that we needed a device that was rugged enough and able to complement our smart mobile scanning unit. That is why we selected the Getac V110. Its ability to convert from laptop to tablet provides users the flexibility of both options. We also appreciate its hot-swappable dual-battery feature that enables users to process the LiDAR data underground regardless of whether they have access to power.”