business
which must be registered with the South African Civil Aviation
Authority. Commercial drone pilots must also attend an RPAS
training programme and are required to carry valid third-
party liability insurance.
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Potential in opencast mining
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Some of the primary areas in which drones can be used in
opencast mining are in stockpile and topographic surveys,
and slope monitoring and detection. Using drones to inspect
stockpiles is simpler, faster, and safer than traditional
manual methods, and surveys can be undertaken more
regularly and with greater accuracy than ever before.
Uneven terrain can cause difficult, hazardous working
conditions for surveyors, and using drones for topographic
surveys reduces wear and tear on equipment while
simultaneously improving data collection and turnaround
time. Ground movement in and around opencast mines,
quarries, and dumps can damage or destroy expensive
equipment, cause injury, and lead to lost production time.
Drone surveys can be used to monitor ground movement
and slope stability.
According to the PwC report, drone use has untapped
potential to deliver significant value in the mining sector.
While the commercial applications may not be immediately
obvious, they can be used in dangerous and monotonous
jobs. They are more cost-effective and versatile than
helicopters, and faster, easier to navigate, and ‘greener’
than mining vehicles. Drones are primarily being tested and
implemented in opencast mining, replacing labour-intensive
methods of inspection, mapping, and surveying, as well as
ensuring safety on the extraction site. The report identifies
four main areas of drone applications in opencast mining
— planning, exploration, environmental protection, and
reporting — and estimates its value at USD4.3-billion.
1. Planning: Opencast mines usually cover several
square kilometres and drones can be used to map the
area quickly, optimise hauling routes, and provide
control information. They can easily assess and
monitor potential storm damage; provide geotechnical
and hydrological data; assist in the design of haul roads,
dumps and pits; map steep, inaccessible inclines; and
monitor surface stability.
2. Exploration: Drone applications in mining
exploration range from providing data-enabling
resource calculation, through mapping a mining area,
to management. They can be equipped to supply spare
parts or take soil samples for deposit analysis, and
can transport tools and lubricants for maintenance
or repair work. They can also respond to emergency
situations faster than people or other vehicles can.
3. Environment: Drones can detect erosion, track
changes in vegetation, and search for defects in mining
infrastructure that may endanger the environment,
more easily — and faster — than people on foot or
manned aircraft can. Some countries use drones for
surveillance, and China has deployed a number of
drones to track illegal night-time emissions produced by
opencast mines.
1 - 4: Drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes
depending on their function and use.
QUARRY SA | SEPTEMBER 2017 _ 13