Best-in-Class Monitoring Solution
The Challenge
A major Canadian surface-strip coal mine operator required an automated system to monitor instability in a section of a mine tailings dam.
The Brandt Positioning technology (BPT) team traveled to the site, made an assessment and proposed a turnkey autonomous monitoring system that included hardware, software, installation, training, and ongoing support.
The Solution
To meet the customer’s monitoring requirement, BPT recommended Topcon’s world-class Delta autonomous monitoring system, including Delta Link hardware, Delta Watch software and Topcon MS1AXII monitoring station. Brandt custom-fabricated four 72” tall metal poles with 5/8” threads on top to place three control prisms and the MS1AXII. The geodetic network consists of three 65mm aperture reference prisms (located outside the zone of influence) and 15 standard L-Bar monitoring prisms.
The Delta Link controller provides power, communications, and monitoring schedule for the MS1AXII robotic total station. The system measures all prisms (reference and monitoring) during a standard scan with data sent to the Delta Watch server via Delta Link’s built-in cellular modem. Delta Watch processes the data using a standard least-squares adjustment and checks it against pre-set thresholds. Engineers are notified by email or SMS text message should thresholds be exceeded.
The network is powered via a customer-provided solar system.
The Result
The BPT solution was procured on-schedule and installed by the BPT team in a three-day stretch, working with the customer’s earthworks team to create level pads and paths for the total station and control prisms. After allowing 10 days for settling and final adjustments, the system performed exactly as planned. The X, Y, and Z positions of the 15 monitoring prisms are updated every 30 minutes, every day.
The system provided outstanding results throughout the harsh Alberta winter, even with temperatures dropping to -30°C for weeks at a time. With routine snow removal to avoid buildup on the prisms and the instrument protective cover, it was able to monitor the tailings dam without disruption.
The system is now operated by the customer’s in-house personnel. It cost the company ~60% less than a rented system and, after one year of service at the current site, the company expects remediation to be complete and will have the option of moving the monitoring system to another location.