Fast, simple stope reconciliation and visualization
Eliminate uncertainty to optimize mine planning and production
Map hard to access underground excavations – efficiently and accurately
In underground mining, the ability to efficiently and accurately assess the geometry and volume of mined stopes is essential to optimize production and monitor the integrity of the stope. At the same time, personnel and equipment must be kept safe. Yet access to voids is often limited, dangerous or prohibited and obtaining accurate and complete data in a timely manner can be a challenge.
Emesent’s Stope Reconciliation solution delivers safe, rapid and accurate autonomous data capture of inaccessible areas that allows operators to confidently verify design conformity, assess ore dilution and improve blasting efficiency to maximize operational profitability.
The challenges faced
A CMS (Cavity Monitoring System) is commonly used to determine the extent and volume of an otherwise inaccessible underground cavity. However equipment is bulky and requires manual handling to complete the process, set up and scan can take some time and personnel are still required to be close to the stope opening, exposing them to risk. And due to the stationary nature of the system, outputs can be impacted by shadowing which means areas can be missed.
An alternative solution, where the stope opening is wide enough, is to scan the stope using a drone. While this is safer and gives more complete data capture than CMS, it can also present challenges. Depending on the technology used, the drone may not be able to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) or operate without additional communications infrastructure being put in place, significantly limiting abilities in inaccessible areas and in the worst case scenario could result in the drone being lost if it flies beyond communications range.
The Emesent Solution
Emesent’s stope reconciliation solutions allow geotechnical engineers and surveyors to efficiently and accurately map hard to access underground excavations to ensure compliance to design — quickly and safely, whilst minimizing impact to production.
Hovermap’s unique versatility sets it apart, offering multiple deployment options that maximize ROI from a single device. It can be operated from a drone, mounted to your existing CMS boom, or on vehicles or equipment for capturing data along drives, or even lowered down raises and orepasses using a cage.
Drone mounted capture
Integrating Hovermap’s advanced autonomous navigation capabilities with a range of next generation drone platforms, the solution delivers proven reliability and rapid data acquisition in hazardous environments, without the need for GPS.
Hovermap’s advanced autonomy enables operations BVLOS and communications range. Coupled with industry-leading SLAM technology, this allows for the comprehensive and confident mapping of large or small hard-to-reach and inaccessible areas, in heavy dust and high humidity. Pilots can execute entire missions—from takeoff to landing—using only a tablet from a safe distance, significantly reducing risk while live-streaming the point cloud in real-time through the Commander app. The captured data can be seamlessly exported into mining CAD software, such as Deswik, for further analysis.
LHD mounted capture
See further with Hovermap LHD. Connecting easily and securely to the LHD via a purpose built mount and transmitting data to the surface via onboard wifi, Hovermap enables an operator to remotely conduct a scan of the working face and visualize results in near real time, providing context and enabling analysis while keeping personnel safe. Hovermap’s 300m range & 360 degree field of view gives operators a complete map of the stope, even in the dark to identify loose rocks, structural hazards, and rill angles in minutes. Plug and play deployment means crews can now perform accurate stope scans, any time, 24/7 without the need for significant training.
Hovermap LHD puts an advanced 3D analysis tool in the hands of operators so they can make faster, better decisions as they go, while allowing safe and efficient LHD operation from the surface and removing personnel from potential harm. It can also be deployed on any other equipment or vehicle.
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Faster data acquisition
Longer flight time and greater range and field of view allows faster data acquisition over a greater area, improving efficiency, especially for large stopes and larger scale projects
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Confident decision-making
Eliminate guesswork with data capture of previously inaccessible areas and accurate, high density point clouds to confidently reconcile stope volumes
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Advanced GPS denied autonomy
With proven reliability in the most challenging environments, Emesent’s world leading SLAM delivers advanced autonomous navigation and collision avoidance without the need for GPS
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Improved efficiency
Automated georeferencing, when using Auto GCPs and existing control infrastructure, saves time and improves accuracy by eliminating manual and error prone processes
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Greater ROI
When multiple scanning techniques are needed, Hovermap’s versatility enables deployment across multiple platforms – drone, vehicle, handheld, backpack, and pole — and allows the data to be merged for a complete view, maximizing ROI from a single device
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Reduced risk
Autonomous and remote data collection keeps personnel from harm, while providing reliable, detailed data capture in hazardous environments
Flexibility to fit any mining environment
Hovermap’s versatility allows it to adapt to various environments, from surface stockpiles to indoor or underground operations:
- Drone integration: Mounted on a DJI M350 drone, Hovermap captures vast stockpile areas quickly and safely. Its advanced collision avoidance technology enables safe flight indoors and around structures, eliminating the need for manual data collection at stockpile peaks.
- Vehicle RTK solution: For larger surface areas, Hovermap can be mounted on a vehicle for continuous scanning with automatic real-time kinematic (RTK) georeferencing & correction. This solution eliminates the need for ground control points, saving time and minimizing disruption to operations.
- Automation with Boston Dynamics Spot: For fully automated indoor stockpile surveys, Hovermap integrates seamlessly with the Spot robot. Using Spot’s mission planning software, operators can remotely execute high-precision scans without ever leaving the office. Spot autonomously traverses the floor around indoor stockpiles, capturing data continuously before returning to its charging station.
Testimonial
“A boom scan could never provide us with the data that Hovermap is able to collect during our monthly reconciliation scanning program. Having the correct visualization makes a huge difference to volumes and with Hovermap you get amazing volume straight off the bat.
Our geologists were very pleased with the data we sent through to them.”
Rapid capture of detailed geotechnical data to optimize mine design
Fast, safe 3D data capture, whilst minimizing impact to production
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World leading SLAM
Proven reliability in challenging environments where other SLAM systems fail
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GPS denied autonomy
Delivers advanced navigation that enables deployment beyond communications range and BVLOS with no additional infrastructure required, with or without GPS
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Automated georeferencing
Improves accuracy and eliminates labor-intensive and time-consuming processes
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Advanced collision avoidance
Provides a virtual safety bubble, allowing the drone to fly safely in complex GPS denied environments
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Built in failsafes
A tiered warning and notification system keeps you informed of any necessary action required during your scan to keep the mission on track
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Return to home
The drone will return to home in the event of a failsafe, such as if communication is lost, to maintain safe operation
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Real time visualization
Preview the point cloud as you scan to ensure complete data capture
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Dust filtering
Safer, more confident flying even in heavy dust environments
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Versatile deployment
Single device is easily switched between multiple deployment platforms
Applications
Case study
Evolution Mining improves stope design and reconciliation at Mungari gold mine
Learn how Emesent Hovermap quickly became the mapping tool of choice at Mungari.
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