Mine tracking software setting standards in equipment safety
Knowing where your mining equipment is at all times is a key priority for mine operators who want to protect the wellbeing of their workers. When mishandled or misused, these heavy machines can cause a serious injury or result in fatality. Using mine tracking software provides the control room with the real-time location of equipment and can provide warnings when equipment is at risk of causing a dangerous situation.
MICROMINE’s Pitram is mine tracking software that provides the capability to track equipment in both underground and open pit mines. Pitram assists mining operations with reducing the likelihood of danger and maintaining operational efficiency.
Customise your system
Pitram’s 3D mine module tracks the current position and status of all equipment via two methods. In a surface mining operation, equipment is fitted with a Pitram mobile tablet. Pitram mobile enables equipment operators to capture production data manually via the touch screen or automatically via integration with on-board systems. The position of the equipment is obtained via a built in GPS+ global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) card. That position is then relayed to the Pitram server via wireless communication which provides the control room with real-time information.
In underground mines, equipment is radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagged and tracked by a 3rd party system. Updates are then reported to Pitram’s server using one of several Pitram tracking system connectors ensuring that the control room always has up-to-date and accurate data. With a 3D visualisation of the mine, operators have a much clearer view of the proximity of machines to each other, allowing real-time decisions to be made if a machine is deemed to have left its working area. If a collision or dangerous situation is imminent, proximity detection warnings will alert equipment operators and the control room, allowing them to resolve the situation. Using Pitram’s mine tracking software assists the prevention of such instances and helping to reduce the risk on workers.
Mine tracking software: operational efficiency
Supervisors can also use mine tracking software to ensure that their operation is working at peak efficiency. Working with Pitram’s shift planner module allows the planned work of equipment or mining locations to be segmented into individual activities such as dumping to a specific pile or drilling in a certain location that can be rescheduled or reallocated if necessary. These activities are then communicated to equipment operators via the Pitram mobile tablet along with expected duration. Data related to the activity will then be collected by Pitram mobile or the tablet and relayed back the control room for monitoring purposes. Supervisors are then notified if an activity is at risk of being delayed, allowing for other activities to be rescheduled if need be. This increases the control mine supervisors have as they are able to make real-time decisions to keep the operation running at peak efficiency.
Using mine tracking software like Pitram can greatly benefit operations that want to employ the best standard of safety for their employees. Being aware of the location of your equipment assists with making decisions that could prevent harmful situations and keep your mine operating at its peak.
Further reading
>Learn more about Pitram mine tracking software.
