UNDERGROUND MINE COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE

A guideline suite that aims to assist those updating or replacing their communication backbone underground.

The rapid development of industrial communications technology in recent years increasingly benefits mining activities around the globe and has affected nearly every facet of the mining process. Companies are rapidly deploying these new tools and applications to gain the associated productivity and financial benefits. However, they face a key challenge in that they require the appropriate infrastructure to support  these technologies in the mining environment, and it is particularly challenging underground mines where many of the options are limited. 

This suite of guidelines provides a high-level view of the processes that are needed to meet planning and design requirements when creating or replacing underground mine communications infrastructure. It steps the user through the general tasks and components to define the technical requirements for an underground communications infrastructure that supports mine services now and into the future.

KEY TOPICS

Part I: Positioning & Needs Analysis 

  • Guideline objectives and audience
  • Mine communications maturity lifecycle
  • Descriptions of lifecycle phases

Part II: Scenarios & Applications

  • Operations between shifts
  • Accelerating post-blast re-entry
  • Monitoring and dispatching systems
  • Auto drilling support
  • Autonomous mining activities
  • Underground environment monitoring and analysis
  • Post-accident communication
  • Underground mapping and sampling
  • Service requirements

Part III: General Guidelines

  • General guidance on administration
  • General best practices
  • General topology
  • Best practices and recommendations
  • Network security for underground mining operations
  • Control rooms and remote management

GMG PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES

2019 Mar | Underground Mine Communications Infrastructure Guidelines Part III: General Guidelines

The guideline compiles information to help the reader better understand the general concepts, techniques, and methods used in the industry to create and maintain a communications infrastructure. The content is designed to help non-information–technology (IT) personnel identify high-level requirements, and to provide resources to learn more the technologies.

2017 Apr | Underground Mine Communications Infrastructure Guidelines Part II: Scenarios and Applications

The guideline provides scenarios of practical applications in underground mining today and in the near future. The scenarios relate how different communications infrastructure designs can be used and combined to achieve key technology goals.

2017 Feb | Underground Mine Communications Infrastructure Guidelines Part I: Positioning and Needs Analysis

The guideline provides a general overview of the guideline objectives, audience, and mine communications maturity lifecycle diagram. This diagram provides a high-level overview of the services and supporting technology that is generally used in each phase of the mine lifecycle.

X