Mining safety assured with 3D Laser Mapping

Laser scanning specialist supplies rugged sensor to help improve safety of mining machine operators

NOTTINGHAM-based 3D Laser Mapping have supplied a Riegl LMS-Z210ii laser scanning system to a South African iron ore mine where it forms an integral part of a waste spreader positioning system (WSPS) developed by Stone Three Venture Technology in partnership with Reutech Mining.

The WSPS is designed to ensure the safety of machine operators involved in iron ore extraction by calculating a safe zone of operation on the mine heap and monitoring the activities of the waste spreader within this defined area.

The Riegl LMS-Z210ii is a rugged sensor designed for the rapid acquisition of high-quality 3D images in harsh and demanding environmental conditions. With a range of up to 650m and accuracies of 10mm, the scanner is mounted on a self-sufficient, semi-mobile platform from where it is used to monitor the expanding waste heap.

The 3D scans of the expanding waste heap are then transferred, via a wireless local area (WAN) network, to a central server where they are used to calculate a safe boundary around the top of the waste heap.

A highly accurate GPS receiver mounted on the waste spreader determines the position of the machine in relation to the pre-determined safe zone. This information is displayed on screen in a central control room, and should the spreader system cross the safety boundary, an audio-visual alarm is automatically triggered to warn both the machine operator and control room staff.

Dr Graham Hunter, managing director of 3D Laser Mapping, commented: ‘By combining best of breed hardware, skill sharing and strategic partnerships with industry partners and end-users, a very exciting solution with many potential applications (including opencast mines and quarries) has been created.’