SiteMonitor Proves a Success for Gold Fields

03 November 2008, 7:51pm

Gold Fields has successfully implemented the latest laser scanning solution to help improve safety and increase production at the Damang Gold Mine in Ghana, West Africa. The SiteMonitor system, developed and supplied by UK based 3D Laser Mapping, combines state of the art laser scanning hardware with sophisticated software to map and continuously analyse displacement measurements for the automatic monitoring of a pitwall at the mine.

Gold Fields Limited is one of the world’s largest unhedged producers of gold with an attributable production of 3.64 million ounces per annum from eight operating mines in South Africa, Ghana and Australia. One of two productions centres in Ghana, the Damang Mine is located in the south west of the country approximately 300 km by road from the capital Accra. Damang continues to increase gold production year on year and has exemplary safety and environmental records with no fatalities recorded since acquisition and over 480 days without any major environmental incident.

“During the trial phase the SiteMonitor system was used to scan several unstable areas across an entire pitwall,” commented Gordon Sweby, Principal Geotechnical Engineer. “Operating in continuous monitoring mode data was streamed to the geotechnical office via a wireless LAN. The next phase of the project will be to integrate the system within mine operations realising the potential already identified and turning the system into an effective tool to aid safe mining.”

The laser scanning system supplied by 3D Laser Mapping includes a Riegl LMS Z420i long range laser scanner, which can capture up to 11,000 point measurements per second, to an accuracy of 10mm and at a range of up to 1,000 metres. A rugged and fully portable sensor the system also includes a calibrated and accurately orientated high-resolution digital camera. The data captured is analysed using 3D Laser Mapping’s SiteMonitor analysis software, which tracks and compares displacement measurements over time, providing early warning of abnormal movement and therefore potential failures in the active mining area that may impact on production, cause damage to equipment or even injury to personnel.

3D Laser Mapping is a global developer of laser scanning solutions for sectors such as mapping, mining and manufacturing. 3D Laser Mapping specialises in integrating laser scanning hardware with their own software and peripherals to create solutions at the cutting edge of technology. Through a worldwide network of distributors 3D Laser Mapping is able to provide frontline support and service for a growing international client base.

Contact: Dr Graham Hunter, 3D Laser Mapping Ltd, graham@3dlasermapping.com
tel: +44 (0) 870 442 9400, www.3dlasermapping.com

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