MICO flying high with autonomous drones using Hovermap technology
Glencore’s Mount Isa Copper Operations (MICO) are paving the way for further safety and productivity improvements with the introduction of Emesent’s Hovermap technology for surface and underground scanning.
Emesent’s flagship technology, Hovermap, is a 3D LiDAR-based scanner which attaches to drones and automates the scanning and collection of technical data both underground and on the surface in areas that are inaccessible or challenging for our personnel to navigate.
LiDAR, otherwise known as Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges and variable distances.
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MICO Sam Bastick, Cadet Mine Surveyor, attaches Hovermap technology to a backpack, where the use of a drone is not required.
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Being LiDAR-based, Hovermap technology is able to capture accurate scans even in poorly lit areas.
These light pulses measure millions of points and, combined with other data recorded by the system, are used to generate highly accurate, three-dimensional maps or ‘point clouds’ of our operations.
Drones are mounted with the Hovermap scanner and their advanced collision avoidance autonomous flight technology allows the drone easy access to confined areas underground that our people are restricted from entering due to safety concerns.
Using the Hovermap scanner, the drones can access stopes, development drives, shafts and other high-risk areas, creating 3D maps and models of the environment, as well as recording videos and images underground.
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LiDAR is a remote sensing method that uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure ranges and variable distances.
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MICO Senior Surveyor, John Collins, attaches the Hovermap technology to a tank underground to complete scans.
The drones are completely automated and don’t require a person to remotely operate them. The flexible design of the Hovermap technology also means they can be used by someone while walking, attached to a vehicle or mounted to backpacks to complete scanning where the use of a drone is not required.
Mount Isa Mines Short Term Planning Superintendent, Jace Hunt, says the application of this technology ensures the safety of our workforce by removing the need for our people to be present in high-risk environments underground, like conducting potentially hazardous inspections and surveys at MICO.
“Being LiDAR-based, the drones do not require a well-lit area to scan as they use a pulsed laser and advanced onboard algorithms in real-time to measure variable distances to the ground,” says Jace.
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The Hovermap technology can also be used on the surface and has the ability to scan through light bush and grass to provide a clear surface model.
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The Hovermap quick release mechanism makes it easy to switch from a drone flight to a walking scan, enabling the collection of critical data both in the air and on the ground.
“The Hovermap technology is also able to achieve an omni-directional field of view meaning that 3D data can be collected from all directions and angles. This allows us to capture more data during the scanning process that previous methods would not allow.”
“This provides our engineers with a complete model with far more certainty, which greatly improves the engineering design process in regards to safety and productivity.”
“The data is easily uploaded to the network and submitted as a scan into the Deswik database. From there, attributes are added and the information is available to the rest of the Technical Services team.”
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The Hovermap-enabled drones are a major safety improvement as they can be sent into inaccessible or high-risk areas.
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Drones are commonly used across Mount Isa Mines, and with Emesent’s Hovermap technology are able to collect more accurate data and imagery in a safer and more productive way.
“With the underground telecommunication networks continuously evolving, we will soon also be able to capture real-time data from our active mining areas with the use of the Hovermap technology.”
“These improvements will assist our engineers to make timelier, safer and more efficient decisions moving forward.”
“Hovermap is really changing the way MICO and mines all around the world are conducting their survey scans,” says Jace.