LiDAR and SLAM in the Mining Sector
Mobile LiDAR is one example of technology that is making mine surveying faster, more productive and safer. The simplicity and versatility of 3D mobile scanners are proving to be impactful across a variety of mining workflows. Their handheld nature and efficiency at capturing point cloud data in short periods, while still producing high levels of accuracy is a game-changer.
Mines that are early adopters of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) have seen the benefits and adaptability of the scanners, realizing that they are an extremely cost-effective solution. The capabilities of handheld laser scanners have large benefits for mines and their workflows. For example, they make scanning a repeatable process due to the ease of use and speed of capture.
Mobile mapping technology is now being used globally as the sector recognizes the improvements that the solutions bring to standard sector workflows. Some additional processes that are taking advantage of this technology to reduce costs and downtime whilst improving site safety, efficiency and automation are:
Production Progress Mapping
Tracking the progress of mining is essential to ensure that work remains on track and that no deviation from original plans occurs. As a result, being able to frequently make effective short-term operational decisions is vital. With mobile LiDAR, scans can be easily repeated and analyzed as often as needed, all while not disrupting the productivity of the mine. The ability to frequently scan an area in short amounts of time allows teams to provide up-to-date maps of progress to compare to plans.
Convergence Analysis
Detecting the velocity of rock movement is a critical indicator of potential slope/rockface instability. Therefore, accurately identifying convergence is paramount to ensuring the safety of employees. Frequent and repeatable data capture is advantageous to the mining sector, increasing the speed of reporting while reducing risks to the surveyor. This saves both time and money and increases safety.
Vertical Shaft Inspection
Surveying and inspecting main ventilation, ore passes or vertical shafts is important for ensuring the quick data capture of shaft walls. Lowering a 3D mobile LiDAR solution into the vertical shaft removes the need for human intervention to capture data on the state of the shaft walls. Increased use of the technology leads to decreased risks to human life while providing objective results.
Stockpile Volume Calculations
As well as frequent underground use, mobile laser scanners are also used for regular data capture of stockpiles, for volume and tonnage calculations. Walking and scanning or mounting the mobile scanner to a UAV or pole provides an option for mine surveyors to determine accurate stockpile volume measurements.
The future of LiDAR and SLAM within the mining sector
The impacts that LiDAR and SLAM have on the mining sector are vast, from increasing processes and advancing workflows to ensuring the safety of workers. Using mobile laser scanners has benefitted mining as scans can be repeated frequently in short amounts of time, without disrupting productivity. The influence that mobile mapping, with LiDAR and SLAM, has on the mining industry is only expected to grow. Therefore, companies would benefit from adopting these technologies to avoid falling behind.