Underground Solutions

UNDERGROUND MINE SURVEY EQUIPMENT

UNDERGROUND SOLUTIONS DESIGNED WITH THE SURVEYOR IN MIND

Allterra has been supplying Underground Mine Survey equipment since the first versions of electronic distance measurement (EDM) were released into the market via the Geodimeter instruments. Our portfolio has now evolved into a full offering of underground survey equipment with Trimble and Geosight products combining industry leading technology and durable, reliable solutions for underground mine surveying.

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Enhance productivity with Trimble solutions designed to optimize and automate workflows and analysis across every stage of the mining lifecycle. Whether it’s exploration or remediation, we extract valuable information, empowering you to harness valuable resources effectively.

Data Collection & Colourised Point Cloud Capture

The underground surveyor over the past 20 years has collected data in point-by-point, string-by-string type measurements when updating the mine model. This would be by use of the S-Series Total Station Range in a manual method, collecting points at regular intervals to create a crude outline of the excavation.

Nowadays, technology has advanced where the total stations have integrated scanning into their system. The versatile Trimble SX12 is a Scanning Total Station that can perform all the traditional setout and data collection functions of a total station, as well as now being able to collect high-density point clouds accurately and colourised.

These colourised point clouds are coordinated in the mine grid and have clean and high-quality accuracy that geologists and engineers can use with confidence to map structures and more. When illuminated correctly, the colourised scan produced with the help of Trimble Business Center can produce a .LAS file are quickly and easily viewed in multiple mining software packages such as Deswik, Datamine, and Surpac.

Design Setout

In underground surveying, design setout is the backbone of the workload. It is very important to be able to transfer the design from the computer models into the field—accurately and efficiently. Trimble Access software combined with the S-series and SX series instruments allows for surveyors to view the designs as if they were looking at them from their office. The visual and graphical selection and interrogation make the setout and installation of your lasers quick and easy. Additionally, traditional tasks such as Auto-stakeout of grade lines and centerlines are all available in the Trimble Mines Module, these can be viewed in 3D on the controller and graphically selected as dxf lines, string files, or points.

Longhole Stoping Setout

Drill and Blast setouts have long been a core task of many underground hard rock mines. Over the years there have been many thousands of paint cans and a few different methods of marking up collars and laser lines offsets. The Auto-stakeout of blast holes and laser lines has been a great improvement and welcomed by underground surveyors to help improve the efficiency of such a tedious markup.

The Trimble Access Mines Module includes the functions which allow Auto-stakeout of long hole collars/ blast holes and laser lines. These designs can be graphically selected or can be determined by prefixes or suffixes when exported from the design engineers. Either way, they are ready for keeping your job times quick and easy.

Get in touch with us at UPG to learn more about the user-friendly Auto-stakeout setout functions with Trimble Access:

Cavity Monitoring System Data Collection

The Cavity Monitoring System (CMS) is the quickest, cost-effective system for determining the mined-out open stope in underground mining where conditions can be dangerous or inaccessible. The Geosight NX150 is the toughest unit in underground mining CMS and can easily export your results back to you quickly in dxf formats—among others.

The MINEi control software is another easy user-friendly workflow and can be installed on the same Windows 10 OS controller that runs your Trimble Access software. Start your CMS, set up your S-series total station, and record the Boom and Scanner Targets, export them into your MINEi software as a csv target list and apply, then view the coordinated scan against your design in Trimble Access while still in the heading! Watch our video on the Geosight CMS collaboration with Trimble Access.

Borehole CMS Cals Data Collection

Historically, where there is an old mine there is potentially more ore around it. This may be due to changes in mining costs and resource price increases now making larger mine models/ore reserves more economically viable. Therefore, the halos and ore-bearing lodes surrounding the existing mined outworkings become targets and viable mining opportunities—with safe mining around the void procedure.

Void scanning and information gathering can be a tricky process. If a void is suspected to be open, drilling a hole into it and deploying a borehole CMS scanner is the best way to get survey information. When doing so, you need to make sure that your unit can be unaffected by magnetics and will be able to apply the best corrections to ensure accurate data.

Also, you need to be able to rely on tough connections and that your unit will be able to withstand harsh conditions. It is also important to be able to process the information quickly as to enable the technical services department to formulate a mining plan to safely work around the area.

The Geosight GSM-16 is the solution to drill hole CMS Data Collection / Borehole CMS Data Collection.

Drillhole Deviation Checks

Whether it be grade control drilling or production drilling, let’s face it—it’s all very expensive, and production drilling can get even more expensive if it goes wrong! It is important to maintain drill holes on design for multiple reasons, and especially long hole production drilling—as bridging and freezing stopes is the equivalent of throwing money and hard work down the drain. This is where checking your drilling prior to loading and firing is essential to getting the stope to fire correctly, as well as proper fragmentation.

It is hard to imagine that steel drill rods can flex and deviate meters away from their intended targets, however with the high hydraulic pressures from long hole drill rigs and weakened geological structuring the holes can deviate meters away from their target.

Over the years, drill hole deviation checks have become more frequent as the cost-benefit analysis has proven to be effective in successful firings and eliminating or reducing failed firings.

Get in touch with us at UPG to learn more about the Geosight Scout – the latest Drillhole Deviation tool in the industry:

Underground Traversing

The underground survey network of wall stations, back stations, and baselines is critical for keeping the accurate position of the mine in relation to its orebody and infrastructure. High order checks of the network combined with time-efficient data collection methods are necessary and also required by code and regulation in underground mine surveys. It is therefore imperative that your survey instruments need to be of the best accuracy available to the industry when installing your network as you advance, as well as able to collect the data reliably, and efficiently when performing checks on the network.

The ability to perform a traverse, and then run a quick check through the traversing function on Trimble Access is a great tool to give you confidence in your field data. Once all your data is easily recalled on the controller, the rate of closure can be seen before you leave the field letting you know that your field data is solid before importing it into Trimble Business Center for further integration and final adjustment.

Underground Solutions

Trimble SX12

Underground Scanning Total Station

Overview

The Trimble® SX12 Scanning Total Station is the industry’s most innovative solution for Surveying, Engineering, Geology and Geotechnical professionals working in Underground or Open Pit Mining.

Product Data Sheet
Trimble SX12 Application Overview

Total Station Portfolio Brochure
Trimble SX12 Underground Mining Video

Full description

The Trimble® SX12 Scanning Total Station is the industry’s most innovative solution for Surveying, Engineering, Geology and Geotechnical professionals working in Underground or Open Pit Mining.

Product Data Sheet
Trimble SX12 Application Overview

Total Station Portfolio Brochure
Trimble SX12 Underground Mining Video

Trimble SX12 Underground Scanning Total Station, built on Trimble’s trusted MagDrive™, Autolock®, enhanced Trimble VISION and Lightning 3DM technologies, is designed from the ground up to deliver maximum accuracy, efficiency and detail.
Combining innovative technologies with simple and intuitive functionality, this uniquely versatile total station is capable of collecting and geospatially correlating three distinct data sets in one instrument; high-accuracy total station measurements, HDR Terrestrial Imagery and high-density 3D scan data.

It also features a green, Laser Class 1 eye-safe laser pointer capable of operationg in three modes: Low-light, Standard or Extended Range.
Unique, automatically or manually focusable laser pointer produces the brightest and the smallest spot size in the industry (just 3mm @ 50m).

Fully Customised Solution for Underground Mining environment

Trimble SX12 Underground Scanning Total Stations are supplied in the latest Pelican Air 1557 case with custom, laser-cut inserts.
Lightweight, watertight, crushproof and dustproof case, measuring only 44 x 33 x 25cm is designed to fit the instrument and spare batteries.

A choice of Trimble TSC7 controller or Trimble T7 tablet fitted with a custom-designed tripod hook is available.
Trimble Access Mines module with automated set-out routines for One person operation is pre-loaded onto each controller.
Compatible with your existing wall stations and other underground accessories.

The complete integration of the SX12 with Trimble Access™ , Trimble Business Center and Trimble RealWorks software, as well as 3rd party mining packages (Deswik, Surpac, etc.) enable familiar and efficient survey workflows to get your crews up and running fast.

Underground Mine Survey

Achieve discrete total station point measurement and 3D scanning with one powerful instrument. Easily auto-stake out mine features using the ultra-bright, high-power laser, then scan to efficiently collect georeferenced point cloud and HDR imagery data. Boost accuracy and speed when performing volumetric surveys, including overbreak and underbreak comparisons.

Underground Mine Geology

In the hard rock underground mining environment, Trimble SX12 combines Mine Survey and Geological Mapping data capture in a single field exercise using only one instrument.
Quartz structures and lithology can be easily identified in the colourised point cloud and immediately available for digitisation and interpretation. Geological features like variations in dip, strike and width, faulting/shearing effects and vein continuity can also be identified and mapped to optimise estimation strategies and production.

Trimble S-Series

Underground Total Stations

Overview

The Trimble® S-Series Underground Total stations are designed to last!

Built on proven Trimble SurePoint and MagDrive™ technology (and robust DR Plus EDM), these are no nonsense workhorses that work efficiently and dependably while maintaining the highest possible accuracy.

Product Data Sheet S5 Total Station
Product Data Sheet S9 Total Station
Total Station Portfolio Brochure

Robotic Total Station Comparison Table

Full description

Fully Customised Solution for Underground Mining Environment

Trimble S-series Underground Total Stations are supplied in the latest Pelican Air 1557 case with custom, laser-cut inserts. Lightweight, watertight, crushproof and dustproof case, measuring only 44 x 33 x 25cm is designed to fit the instrument, the controller and spare batteries.
TSC7 controller and T7 tablet tablet are fitted with a custom-designed tripod hook; no assembly required – ready for use out of the box!

Take Total Control of your Underground Mine Surveying Workflow

Whether you prefer working at the instrument or away from the instrument – we have a controller to suit.
Have your controller attached to the instrument, hanging off a tripod or hold it in your hand while working at the face, wall or backs.
Once you set your mark-up delay, slide the controller into your shirt poket and free both hands for a telescopic paint pole.

Trimble Access Mines module with auto set-out routines runs on:
Trimble TDC600, Trimble TCU5 and Trimble TSC7 Controllers as well as on
Trimble T7 / Trimble T10 or 3rd Party Win10 tablets.

Total Flexibility

Choose between:
Trimble S5 and Trimble S9 instruments in either Autolock or Robotic configuration.
Available in 1”, 2” and 3” angular accuracy.

Choose between:
Trimble TSC7 controller with a backlit keyboard or a Trimble T7 tablet.
Trimble TCU5 clip-on face plate or Trimble TDC600, clip-on / carry on hybrid controller.
No matter which controller you choose, Trimble Access Mines, a familiar software and user interface is the same on all of them.

More Information

Everything you need to perform an underground survey campaigns
Automated Set-Out routines for One person operation
Seamless data integration with Deswik, Surpac and other office software packages

Trimble Access Mines

Overview

Based on Australian underground mining practices and workflows, TA Mines module includes powerful auto stake-out tools for survey of underground mine operations. Whether you are using a Trimble S-series Total Station or an SX12 Scanning Total Station, easy-to-use interface guides you through tasks such as auto ring-setout or auto staking center line, grade lines or laser lines.

Trimble Mines Technical Notes
Trimble Mines User Guide

Full description

Rugged hardware and flexible software designed for one person operation containing an extensive range of powerful auto stakeout routines makes underground surveyors’ job easier than ever.

Define your Lines, Points and Rings

Key in, select from a DXF file, import from a CSV file, or measure in the field
Direct Import of data from Deswik software in Trimble JobXML format
Direct Import of data from Surpac string files in .STR format
Direct Export from from Deswik software in Trimble JobXML format
Direct Export to Surpac in Surpac Data Recorder (.SDF) format
eliminates the need for any intermediary data conversion software

Streamline Your Everyday Surey Workflows

Auto stake predefined blast hole positions.
Define and auto stake center, grade, and laser lines to align a drilling rig.
Auto stake predefined pivot points to position a drilling rig.
Specify a suitable start and mark delays
Automatic Recording of Forward Stations to Control File
Automatic Stakeout of Wall Laser positions
3D active maps for graphical staking of points, lines and rings

Streamline Your Everyday Survey Workflows

Generate customised reports for your surveyed mine data on the controller while in the field and check data before you come to the surface.
Alternatively, transfer from the controller to your office software for further processing and reporting.

Automatic generation of graphical reports of your resection,
including wall station residuals and other QA/QC data
Various reports directly from Deswik or Surpac software

Compatible Products

Trimble Controllers
Trimble S-series Underground Total Stations
Trimble SX12 Underground Scanning Total Station

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UNDERGROUND MINE SURVEY EQUIPMENT

Underground Solutions

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