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The Mobile Surveillance System

Deployed as a Pot Pod Alarm System for Opencast Mines

Overview

 

Tthe Mobile Surveillance System is a multi-purpose monitoring and reaction device that can be adapted to customer needs.  Below it is described as deployed as an alarm system in an opencast (pit) mining environment.

 

The pit alarm provides, in conjunction with the Slope Stability Radar (SSR), a warning system allowing evacuation of dangerous areas in an opencast mining environment. It has three main components:

  • the dispatch unit,

  • the repeater unit and the

  • trailer unit (pod).

 

The dispatch unit is installed inside a manned control room and provides an overview of the pit units. The repeater unit should be installed near the edge of the pit with line-of-site views of both the control room tower and the pods in the pit.  Depending on the mine topology and the area to be covered, more than one type of repeater might be needed (link repeater, repeater or rim repeater). The pod unit consists of a trailer fitted with surveillance equipment that can be positioned in high risk areas inside the mining pit itself. The pit alarm operates with radio frequency signals which provide communication between the pod unit via the repeater and the dispatch unit and vice versa.

 

Dispatch Unit

Features of dispatch unit:

 

  • Each unit can display critical parameter of four pit pods and two repeaters.
  • Display battery voltage, signal strength, tamper, movement, panic and camera state.
  • Control of traffic light and sounder status.
  • Prohibit unauthorized usage – needs ibutton.
  • Display traffic light status.
  • Up to seven units can be used side by side.

The Rim Repeater

Features of the Rim Repeater

 

  • Deployed at the edge of the pit.

  • Communicate with the pit pods

  • Must have line-of-site views to both the base station mast or repeater as well as the pit pod units. 

  • Self supporting with respect to power requirement.

  • Carries both the control link as well as the 802.11a video link.

Link repeater

Features of the Link Repeater

 

  • Able to communicate over longer distances of up to 15 km.

  • Mainly deployed on high-sites. 

  • Incorporates a 6m extendable mast

  • Equiped with a red beacon light to help spot its location easily and confirms live status

  • Power requirement specification are the same as used in the pit pods.

 

Pit Pod

Features of pit pod:

 

  • Sounders for evacuation warning.
  • Extendable 6m mast.
  • Traffic light to direct road users or prohibit entry.
  • Video camera system for images of the pit wall and event recording.
  • Panic button in the case of an emergency.
  • Automatic rain meter with self emptying device.
  • Deployment in different pits (roaming).
  • Integrated solar system for self sustaining power requirement.
  • Easily upgradeable to make provision for any future requirements.   

Control Room

 

  • A powerful server PC is used if video images are to be displayed and for the geographic mapping software.
  • Two LCD screens are used, one for the video camera images and the other for the geographical map information and control.
  • It displays the positions of all the pit pods (GPS coordinates) on the different pit maps.
  • All relevant data, control status, alarm status are accessed via menus.
  • The software program keeps rainfall measurements and show rainfall patterns in graphic form over different time intervals, i.e. a week, month, season, year.
  • GPS information of the fixed repeaters can be added to the geographical map.
  • A log file is kept and used as a diagnostic tool for preventative maintenance, fault finding and to analyze the sequence of events after an incident.
  • Video images are time-stamped and recorded for a period of at least two weeks.
  • Includes a Line Protection Unit  to sefeguard the equiment agianst lightning strikes on or in the vicinity of the mast of the control room.

Currently Installed Base:

 

  • Anglo American Platinum Limited, Mogalakwena Platinum Mine, Limpopo Province, South Afrika.
  • Kamoto Copper Company, Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Nkomati Nickel Mine, Mpumalang Province, South Africa
  • Debswana Orapa Diamond Mine, Boteti Sub-District of Botswana