The lower, the safer

Using a Leica CS15 controller to remotely operate the wireless enabled  ScanStation, a set of targets are also collected and coordinated to the mine coordinate systems with a Leica TS06 total station. A few minutes later, the data is processed in Leica Cyclone REGISTER software. The stope is then modeled within seconds in 3DReshaper.

With laser scanning, a time savings of up to 7 hours, compared to previous traditional surveying techniques, is achieved. Whereas processing a stope survey previously could take up to 8 hours, the mine technicians can now extract it under 1 hour using Cyclone, 3DReshaper and other Leica Geosystems software solutions.

“The Leica ScanStation not only improves the operation regulatory conformity for safety, but it also boosts productivity and gives us huge time savings,” said Ravel Júlio da Fonseca, supervisor at AngloGold Ashanti. “Our teams can survey more locations, optimising both ore extraction and mine reconciliation. And the level of details on galleries are so high that even outcropping ore and cabling can be spotted, benefiting not only the survey teams but also the rock mechanics team on its field project analysis and layout.”

More importantly, though, this technology enables the mine to reach its top priority – safety.

In underground mining, safety is a top requirement. Knowing the environment around you is fundamental for ultimate security and extraction planning. Laser scanning exposes less miners to dangerous environments, for lesser time, while exceeding surveying and extractions demands.

Back to Reporter 77 article overview 

Story: The lower, the safer
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: A risky survey
Chapter 3: Safer and faster with laser scanning