SITEMONITOR IMPROVES SAFETY AT MOGALAKWENA MINE

The SiteMonitor solution from 3D Laser Mapping has been used at Mogalakwena mine,

35km North of Mokopane in Limpopo Province, South Africa not only for slope management

monitoring but also to assist in highlighting high risk and hazardous areas, ensuring safer

working conditions.

For Mogalakwena mine’s slope management strategy, the stereonet functionality is used,

providing a quick overview of the dip and dip direction of structural features in relation to

the pit slope.

The information is then used to model potential failure mechanisms and also identify

hotspots for safe working conditions. The stereonet provides accurate structural

information comparable with most digital mapping packages currently used at the mine.

“In our current era we are employed within a demanding and dynamic mining environment where mechanization is a keyword used and applied. The SiteMonitor setup and Acquisition module has really catered for this in the sense that it simplified human interaction and increased safety and productivity within this arduous environment. SiteMonitor setup and Acquisition already enables the mine surveyor to smoothly and easily ensure validity of data captured for multiple setups within a short period of time on a daily basis or whenever there is an area of concern. This is important from a safety and legal standpoint. ”- Frans Benadé, Section Surveyor at Mogalakwena Mine. A main concern of this customer was to be able to detect rockfall hotspots in the open pit, which SiteMonitor achieved by identifying the displacement hotspots, measuring displacement rates, and rockfall volumes detached or accumulated on the highwall. The failure mechanism is a combination of loss of cohesion on these planes and shearing as a result of blasting, which can produce rapid rockfalls occurring within a few hours and with various sizes. Rockfall information obtained from SiteMonitor is complemented by ground truthing

exercise to confirm the events detected on the system. Once a rockfall hotspot has been

detected, remedial measures such as wire meshing, and rockfall catchment berms are

implemented.

“Using the site monitor software has been a great experience for me. One of the major challenges faced by Geotechnical Engineers in open pit mines was the current lack of a system for rock fall risk management. The site monitor software provides a solution to this problem. It enables Geotechnical Engineers in open pit mines to detect rock fall hotspots, to quantify the number of rock falls, and to calculate volume of rock fall. This enables us to assess the risk and to ensure that appropriate rock fall risk mitigation is in place. There is no other system currently in the market that is capable of offering the same functionalities”- Ernest Rankhododo, Chief Rock Engineer at Mogalakwena Mine.

Contacts:

Editorial and advertising enquiries, call Eileen Pegg, +44 (0) 1949 838004

Reader enquiries to Eileen Pegg, eileenpegg@3dlasermapping.com

tel: +44 (0)1949 838004, www.3dlasermapping.com.

Please email colour separation requests to Fax +44 (0)1666 824668

Notes to Editors:

3D Laser Mapping is a world leading provider of laser scanning technology. We offer

solutions that capture 3D data and then process this data to deliver information for

making decisions.

Headquartered in Bingham, near Nottingham in the UK, the company employs over 35

highly trained, specialist staff. We achieve global reach through our branch offices in

South Africa, USA and Australia as well as our network of international distributors.

We pride ourselves in offering the very best technical support in the business and run

dedicated training packages and consultancy services to suit each customer’s need.

3D Laser Mapping is proud to serve our hundreds of customers which include mining

companies, governments, academic institutions and blue-chip owners & operators of

assets such as highways, power lines, railways and buildings to name but a few.