SLOPE STABILITY MONITORING
“For the first time, we can see and correlate in real time what we have
always predicted using models and assumptions,” Boshoff said. “Harnessing
the power of big data, we can now test our assumptions and substantially
raise the confidence of our observations. With the exponential growth in the
application of technology in this field, more data is being generated and is
available to be harnessed and interpreted.”
The sheer quantity of data generated means that engineers must innovate,
finding new and more efficient ways to validate, evaluate and interpret the
large incoming datasets.
Boshoff notes, however, that harnessing the full power of big datasets
demands the appropriate database structures and validation processes to be
in place – which is where SRK is investing considerable effort.
“To support this need, we have recently put in place a data services
department at SRK, pulling together some of our brightest minds and data
analysts,” she said. “This is helping champion our initiatives to harness these
growing datasets into sound engineering information – so they can contribute
to making informed engineering decisions.”
GroundProbe brings it all together
David Noon, COO at Orica-owned GroundProbe, says improving global tailings
dam monitoring practices continues to be a key pillar of its vision of maximum
safety for the mining industry. “In the last two years especially, a large
number of mine sites have begun actively adopting best-practice monitoring
solutions for tailings dams as a necessity, often incorporating GroundProbe
systems. Globally, sites are beginning to accept that it is just as important to
the overall safety of the mine that they monitor non-operational areas as well
as areas of high production. In the last 24 months, GroundProbe has
deployed custom monitoring solutions to tailings dams across Brazil, Peru,
Canada, Mexico, Australia and multiple African countries. Each tailings dam is
unique and so is the consequence of failure should the dam collapse. In most
instances, several sensors are deployed to effectively manage the potential
risk posed by a tailings dam collapse.”
If the solution incorporates multiple systems or sensors, Noon says it is
integral that users have some way to bring all the data from the sensors
together for analysis and identification of trends. “This is why over the past
year we have committed our product development capabilities towards
developing our world-class data aggregation software, MonitorIQ. MonitorIQ
is a single-dashboard aggregation that gathers data from all on-site mine
sensors to provide a complete overview of a slope or tailings dam. Unlike
other data aggregation software in the market, our patented geotechnical
analysis software, SSR-Viewer, is completely built-in. With all sensor data
consolidated and complete access to all SSR-Viewer safety-critical features,
RIEGL WAVEFORM LiDAR
FOR
TOPOGRAPHY & MINING
HIGH PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS FOR
DEMANDING SURVEYING PROJECTS
RIEGL VZ-2000i
WATCH OUR WEBINAR
RIEGL 3D Long Range LiDAR
for Mining, May 2020
• high-accuracy long-range 3D terrestrial laser scanner
• automatic on-board data registration
• versatility by customized apps delivering real-time
on-board final results
• cloud connectivity and remote operation
for autonomous data acquisition
• heavy-duty camera (optional) for operation
in harsh environments
RIEGL UAV LiDAR Sensors & Systems
miniVUX-1UAV / miniVUX-2UAV
• lightweight sensors for integration in various small UAVs
VUX-1UAV
• versatile and powerful sensor for wide area UAV surveying
VUX-240
• versatile high-speed scanner providing high point densities
on the ground for corridor mapping applications
RiCOPTER
• ready to deploy, remotely piloted
airborne surveying platform
Explore the full portfolio of proven RIEGL LiDAR
sensors and systems www.riegl.com
newsroom.riegl.international
GroundProbe conducts 24/7 remote monitoring of its systems from one or
more of its remote monitoring centres located in Balikpapan, Indonesia;
Santiago, Chile; and Belo Horizonte, Brazil
RIEGL LMS GmbH, Austria | RIEGL USA Inc.| RIEGL Japan Ltd. | RIEGL China Ltd. | RIEGL Australia Pty Ltd.
JULY/AUGUST 2020 | International Mining 73