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Curtin Western Australian School of Mines

Mine Planning and Surveying

The group is focusing on research initiatives in the area of mine planning and design, optimisation, systems analysis and technology applications.
The group also develops projects that research applicability of newly emerging spatial technologies to mining and mine surveying practice.

 

Group Objectives

- To conduct research in computer modelling and optimisation of mining systems using analytical techniques and new computer technologies in order to help the mining industry increase efficiency, cut costs, improve productivity and safety;
- To develop user-friendly software tools to assist mine planners;
- To build infrastructure (know-how, hardware, software) for management and visual representation of complex and voluminous geological and mining data;
- To apply and extend new spatial technologies to mine planning, design, surveying and mapping;
- To collaboratively develop or improve existing equipment and technologies utilised in mine surveying;
- To provide surveying and mapping support to other WASM research groups.
The Group endeavours to enhance partnerships with industry and other research institutions in and outside Australia as well as other Programs within Curtin University.

 

Group Leader

Dr Andrew Jarosz

 

Current Projects

 

 

Utilisation of remote, satellite based, techniques for monitoring of mining subsidence

Methods allowing for accurate prediction of rock strata deformations are important elements of mine design system. These methods require input from existing deformation surveys to make them applicable to local geotechnical and mining conditions.

The classical surveys carried out on mine sites and also the specialised surveys that monitor stability of mining slopes and structures are the usual source of deformation data. The recent, extensively developed remote sensing technologies could be directly utilised for detecting mining induced subsidence or provide new source of data for tuning deformation models. In particular, such data can be used for calibration of numerical models that predict deformation. Of the remote sensing technologies, the satellite based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology can deliver coverage and accuracies that are compatible with classical deformation surveys. One of the great advantages of this method is, that it does not require any field instrumentation. Thus this reduces significantly the costs of monitoring and interpretation process. The InSAR, is capable of making many thousands of measurements over small areas that allows for much more detailed analysis of the subsidence and the mining processes that induce them. Furthermore, it allows the monitoring of hazardous and inaccessible areas, as the method requires little ground-based surveys to calibrate the results. The aim of this research project is to apply and extend current experiences with InSAR and DInSAR (Differential InSAR) technologies for subsidence monitoring over mining areas utilising a block caving mining method. The collected subsidence data will then be used to build accurate and locally tuned numerical models allowing for prediction of rock mass deformations. It is also expected that by monitoring the patterns of surface subsidence valuable information related to efficient mining of ore deposit can be deduced.

Sponsors: European Space Agency, BHP Billiton - Nickel West, Rio Tinto - Argyle Mine, KCGM, Nifty Mines.

 

Publications

Title: Is ISAR Interferometry able to Detect Slope Deformations of Open Pit Mines?
Author(s): Jarosz A., Shepherd L.
Publication: Proceedings, National Mine Surveying Conference, Darwin, Australia
Open Publication

Title: Use of InSAR for Monitoring of Mining Deformations
Author(s): Andrew Jarosz and Dietrich Wanke
Publication: ESA Fringe 2003 Workshop, 2-5 December 2003, Frascati, Italy.
Open Publication

Title: Detection and Monitoring of Mining Deformations Using InSAR Technology
Author(s): Jarosz A. and D. Wanke
Publication: 12th Australasian Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia.
Open Publication

Title: Use of InSAR for Monitoring of Mining Deformation
Author(s): Andrew Jarosz and Dietrich Wanke
Publication: R e s e a r c h - R e p o r t
Link: http://kalmin.wasm.curtin.edu.au/other/InSAR/WMC/report

 

 

Development of shaft and ore-pass inspection system

Vertical openings, particularly ore passes, created and utilised in underground mines are difficult to access, inspect and survey. However, they are frequently the crucial element of the ore flow system and their failure may have significant impact on performance and productivity of a mine. As there is not direct human access to ore passes, remote techniques must be used to perform inspections and surveys. Up-to-date, most inspection systems utilised a sensing pod suspended on a wireline deployed from a winch. The suspended pod was usually equipped with illumination devices and video cameras. The analogue video signal was transmitted over wireline to a control unit located in the proximity of the winch. The stabilisation of the sensing pod and cameras was the main problem of existing systems. They did not have ether any surveying capabilities that allow for collection of metric information.

The vertical opening inspection and surveying system, which is presently under development at the Western Australian School of Mines (Curtin University), provides inspection and surveying capabilities. The unique gyro system provides rotational stabilisation for the pod and allows for significant increase of data quality. The unit’s design is based on standard, off the shelf and low cost, components merged with smart programming and advanced communication systems. The tool acquires digital images, utilising its forward and side view cameras, and combines them with pod motion data (provided by the on-board inertial system) when lowered along a shaft or ore pass. An extension of the inspection pod with a laser scanner allows it to collect metric data of the inspected vertical openings. All data is transmitted to the control station. The monitoring results are processed and compared with previous surveys and any changes are detected. The project is at the advanced stage of development with all components selected and assembled.

 

VOIS Capabilities

Open Publication

File Description: Short description of VOIS capabilities and specs

 

 

Laser Stope Surveying System (L3S)

Laser based surveying instruments are used frequently by mine surveyors to measure the extent and shape of inaccessible underground stopes (cavities) created during the mining process in underground metalliferous (gold/zinc/copper) mines of Western Australia. The instrument used primarily for such surveys is the Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) produced by Optech, Canada. The CMS is the result of research and development conducted in the late 1980's by Optech and Noranda Technology Centre (NTC). Since that time there were no significant new development and improvement for this equipment. This twenty-year-old technology is rather outdated and unreliable by today's standards with units experiencing regular maintenance problems. This research and development program should lead to development of a new generation of stope surveying equipment. Such research would make use of significant advances in laser, electronic and computer technology available recently, allowing for the cavity surveying process to be a much faster, easier and safer than presently.

 

Publications

Title: Application of Cavity Monitoring System for the Control of Dilution and Ore Loss in Open Stopes
Author(s): Jarosz A., L. Shepherd
Publication: Proceedings, 11th International Congress of ISM, Cracow, Poland, pp.155-164
Open Publication

Title: Open Stope Cavity Monitoring for the Control of Dilution and Ore Loss
Author(s): Jarosz A., L. Shepherd
Publication: Proceedings, MPES2000, Athens, Greece, pp. 63-66
Open Publication

Title: Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) - Survey Errors and Calibration
Author(s): Jarosz A., L. Shepherd
Publication: Proceedings, National Mine Surveying Conference, Darwin, Australia
Open Publication

 

Images

L3S Head - Design Concept Design Concept of L3S Optical Head (png image)

 

Movies

L3S Head - Operation Operation of L3S Head (mpg movie)

 

 

Wall Station Surveying

This project analyses the survey configuration, instrumentation and error propagation in the control survey technique known as “wall station traversing”. The technique utilises wall mounted survey points as an alternative to roof (backs) mounted points. As the technique is gaining widespread acceptance in underground mines in Australia a thorough investigation of its accuracy needs to be conducted.

Publications

Title: Recent Changes in Underground Traversing Techniques in Western Australia
Author(s): Andrew Jarosz and Luke Shepherd
Publication: Proceedings, 12th ISM Congress, Fuxin-Beijing, China, 20 - 26 September 2004.
Open Publication

 

Resection Geometry - Error Animation

Open Animation

File Description: Powerpoint Presentation showing animation of error ellipse - Narrow and Right angle geometry resection.

 

 

New Underground Haulage Systems

In a search for more cost effective material handling systems, the Western Australian School of Mines has undertaken a background study on monorail haulage systems in metalliferous underground mines. At present there are no monorail systems operating in Australian metalliferous underground mines. The initial specific task to be addressed is to examine the ability of monorail systems to access ore bodies more quickly, and more cheaply, than the 1:7 diesel truck declines commonly adopted. The objectives of the study are: (1) Examine, with the assistance of the manufacturer, the applicability of the electric monorail transport system (EMTS) in orebodies which cannot be economically accessed by existing practices. (2) Develop in conjunction with the manufacturer suitable methods of developing the decline access considering costs for different decline gradients, (3) Examine a monorail system, whereby transport by monorail is compared with alternative methods taking capital and operating costs into account, (4) Report the findings of the above investigations and how such findings might best be utilised by the mining industry in Western Australia.

 

Open pit Load-Haul Operating Practices

It is generally accepted that fuel, spares, tyres, labour and engine life contribute most to the cost of haul truck operation. This project aims at providing a better understanding of equipment selection process for application in open pit mining. The study will analyse factors such as truck capacity, engine power, bearing design, passes/truck, operating methods and practices and their impact on truck haulage costs. Data mining techniques will be used to identify relationships and to benchmark operating practices as well key performance indicator. The objectives: of this project are to: (1) Develop algorithms to model the process of equipment selection, (2) Identify practices that the industry could address to improve economics of open pit mining. (3) Improved methodology for haulage cost estimates, (4) Review the traditional paradigm of 3-5 passes per truck and establishes new guidelines for loader-truck matching.

Modelling and Optimisation of Mining Systems

This project involves development of optimisation algorithms for mining production systems. A network linear programming model to optimise the operation of a group mines and metallurgical plants is being developed. Network LP models are particularly useful in modelling production-distribution type systems such is common in the mining industry. The model being developed seeks to combine mathematical programming and simulation modelling into an integrated mine planning system. The LP module of the system optimises the net present value of the mining operation and the simulation model optimises the operation of plant and equipment over the planning period.

 

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