SLOPE STABILITY MONITORING
The bigger picture
Mines are increasingly combining a number of technologies to ensure all bases are covered when it comes to pit wall and tailings dam monitoring , reports Paul Moore
Open pit wall failures continue to happen in mining , especially in large , steepwalled pits in long mine life operations . Most , however , are now predicted using a combination of technologies that are now routinely deployed at major minesites . In tandem with this , as major miners set their own new stringent guidelines for tailings management , combined with the recently released Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management , there is now a lot of focus on applying the latest technology at tailings storage facilities ( TSFs ), especially those that are upstream and considered to have a greater failure risk . At both open pit mines and TSFs , it is no longer about individual methods – most approaches now incorporate everything from radar to laser , InSAR and various wireless connected sensors including piezometers , inclinometers and seismometers .
From predictive to reactive
RGR-Velox is a new military-precision reactive monitoring and alarming system for tailings dam breaches , large slope failures , landslides , and avalanches . It detects , tracks and alarms on moving geohazards in real-time , keeping people , assets , and communities safe by giving warning of a breach or collapse . It is the latest technology to be born from Orica-owned GroundProbe ’ s industry-leading R & D and product development programs , and the most recent innovation to be added to the company ’ s
already extensive fleet of technologies and services . It ’ s GroundProbe ’ s first product release in reactive monitoring , with the company now offering both predictive and reactive monitoring technologies .
The system is designed for tailings dam collapses , landslides , avalanches , and large slope failures , all of which can be disruptive , destructive , and at worst , fatal . For a comprehensive approach to risk-based monitoring and ultimate safety , the RGR-Velox can be combined with GroundProbe ’ s predictive monitoring technologies and support network , systems , and services .
Its pioneering predictive monitoring solutions ( Slope Stability Radars and lasers ) detect and warn people and communities of impending mine collapses , dam failures , rockfalls and landslides . David Noon , COO at GroundProbe told IM : “ Conversely , the RGR-Velox , a reactive monitoring solution , tracks , and alarms on already moving geohazards post-collapse , giving early warning to take action or evacuate through alarm outputs such as lights , sirens , pagers , or phones . Together , they deliver a complete , stateof-the-art monitoring strategy to better manage risk and ensure maximum safety .”
Noon says the RGR-Velox is the highest precision , fastest scanning , and longest range doppler radar in the market and sets the new standard in emergency geohazard monitoring . The system sweep-scans an entire area instantly , much like taking a radar photograph , to capture
RGR-Velox from GroundProbe is a new militaryprecision reactive monitoring and alarming system for tailings dam breaches and large slope failures in mining
actionable information as it happens and provide new details of the scene every 0.25 seconds .
“ Perhaps most impressive is the device ’ s ability to differentiate and locate small moving objects with precise accuracy . Leading with the smallest minimum object size , lowest minimum detectable speed , and finest range resolution and angular precision , the RGR-Velox sees more and sees it sooner . It can detect a 0.3 m x 0.3 m object from 1 km – moving at just 0.05 m per second – and can correctly locate the object in space to a precision of 0.2 ° x 1.7 m .”
Its alarming capabilities are completely customisable , ensuring users are empowered to design alarms tailored entirely to their specific site challenges and conditions . The RGR-Velox features a myriad of safeguards to ensure monitoring never stops , vital for highconsequence , emergency monitoring . These include its robust and reliable hardware with no moving parts and ability to be left out in all weather conditions , and industry-proven processing unit with inbuilt battery monitoring and alert function , tried and tested watchdogs constantly monitoring for faults and system failures , three tiers of power redundancy to ensure the radar never stops , and countless customisable alarm parameters to suit every scenario .
AUGUST 2021 | International Mining 103