SLOPE STABILITY & MONITORING
Bringing new stability
IM caught up with David Noon- Vice President Geosolutions, Orica Digital Solutions on some key developments and trends, from AI to global monitoring
Q Is there increasing use of AI in slope stability monitoring and if so what is it bringing in terms of capability and functionality?
The use of artificial intelligence in geotechnical monitoring marks an exciting step forward, one we’ re actively exploring at Orica Digital Solutions. AI offers great potential in helping us interpret ever-increasing data, spot early warning signs of instability, and support proactive, informed decision-making. When applied thoughtfully, it enables predictive modelling that improves risk assessments and helps prevent incidents before they happen. However, it’ s important to remember that AI and automation are not replacements for domain expertise; they are tools that help us expand and optimise it. Effective geotechnical risk management requires a deep understanding of geology, operations, and site-specific conditions, which AI alone cannot replicate. That’ s why our approach combines AI and automated workflows within a broader, expert-led framework. By blending intelligent data processing with real-time, high-precision monitoring and the experience of our engineers and operators, we can reduce decision-making time, cut manual inefficiencies, and provide 24 / 7 responsiveness. This mix of automation and human insight leads to safer, smarter operations and allows our customers to focus on what matters most: making well-informed, timely decisions that protect people and assets.
Q Is it significant or important that Orica Digital Solutions can offer a comprehensive suite of solutions, both from your own portfolio including technology from GroundProbe, RST and others, but also through partnerships with Trimble and other third parties?
What truly sets Orica Digital Solutions’ Geosolutions apart in this space is our ability to offer an end-to-end suite of monitoring solutions that few can match. Geosolutions unites a group of industry leaders, including GroundProbe, RST, Measurand, 3vG, Syscom, and NavStar, each bringing specialised expertise across geotechnical, structural, and environmental monitoring. Through GroundProbe’ s proprietary technologies, such as the SSR-XT, RGR-Velox, and MonitorIQ™, we provide high-precision, real-time monitoring across a wide range of use cases. But we don’ t stop there. We also partner with trusted leaders like Trimble to further extend our capabilities into advanced surveying and positioning. These partnerships ensure our customers benefit from bestin-class integrated sensors, software, and services, supported by Trimble’ s extensive distribution network for efficient local inventory, repairs, and maintenance.
Q Are centralised monitoring hubs continuing to grow in importance in helping customers manage their slope stability monitoring needs, especially in terms of interpretation of data, and increasing requirement for tailings monitoring?
One area where this integrated approach is becoming increasingly valuable is in the growth of centralised monitoring. As mining operations grow more data-rich and complex, the demand for centralised hubs, capable of merging and analysing multiple data streams, is rapidly increasing. These hubs act as a single source of truth, integrating data from radars, lasers, prisms, piezometers, and other sensors into a clear, comprehensive view of site conditions. Our Geotechnical Specialist Services( GSS) team plays a key role here, providing 24 / 7 sensor-agnostic remote monitoring and analysis to help clients confidently manage their slope stability and critical asset monitoring. It’ s about turning data into insight, and insight into action, before risks become serious. This is especially important when it comes to tailings monitoring. With stricter regulations and a stronger industry focus on tailings dam safety, there’ s an urgent need for continuous, expert interpretation of monitoring data.
Q What are the most significant recent developments in terms of monitoring capabilities within Orica Digital Solutions?
The recent expansion of our Geotechnical Specialist Services( GSS) service marks a significant milestone for Orica Digital Solutions. Starting in 2015 with just a small team of three, it has grown into a global network of over 170 geotechnical engineers and radar operators. Today, GSS provides reliable, 24 / 7 support to more than 120 sites across 18 countries from our dedicated monitoring centres in Balikpapan, Santiago, and Belo Horizonte. We are proud to now operate as a fully sensoragnostic service, capable of monitoring radars, GNSS, Robotic Total Stations, piezometers, cameras, and third-party systems, offering greater flexibility, scalability and value to our customers. Our achievements to date speak volumes: 9,338 slope failures detected with early warnings; over 17,000 validated alarms; nearly 160,000 unwanted alarms managed; and 250 sensors monitored globally. Plus, support is provided in four languages, across all time zones. As we approach our tenth anniversary, we’ re not just celebrating our achievements, we’ re also looking ahead. The relaunch of GSS under Orica Digital Solutions demonstrates our expanded scope and ambitions. It reaffirms our dedication to innovation, excellence, and most importantly, supporting our customers with the insights and expertise they need to operate safely and efficiently. Our Digital Solutions’ Geosolutions portfolio doesn’ t just monitor slopes; we safeguard lives, communities and infrastructure. And that’ s a responsibility we’ re proud to lead. company Atalaya Mining, current operator of Rio Tinto mine and the Superior Council of CSIC Scientific Research in Spain( projects Minerva and STONE), to incorporate technological innovations and to execute a digital transition towards a comprehensive geodetic and geotechnical monitoring of the entire mining area. Hexagon’ s product portfolio- bringing together IDS GeoRadar and Leica Geosystems solutions- has been identified as the one provider able to cover, through a complete monitoring data integration, the different needs of this project.
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The Rio Tinto mine is in the prolific Iberian Pyrite Belt, close to Seville; today, the Cerro Colorado pit is active( dimensions 2,500 x 200 x 250 m, 224.54 ha) and stores the waste material in a tailing dam, whose perimeter is about 10 km, 501.4 ha, and 100 m high. The hybrid containment dam called Vaguada Norte has seen different construction methods over the years, experiencing the analogue reading as typical monitoring.
To support the creation of a comprehensive geodetic and geotechnical monitoring model, Vaguada Norte’ s monitoring data are collected with IDS GeoRadar’ s IBIS-FM EVO ground radar, Leica Geosystems’ TM60 total stations and prisms, and other sensors( open-well piezometers, inclinometers, markers, GNSS, etc). In addition, evaluation and analysis of the collected data are carried out through Hexagon’ s 24 / 7 remote monitoring services, which support Atalaya’ s geotechnical team in decision making with daily and flash reports. With this information, field verifications are conducted to determine whether or not TARP should be activated, sometimes considering the implementation of control measures or additional actions by
International Mining | AUGUST 2025