Donskoy GOK integrates positioning system at its mines
The state-of-the-art solution will enable real-time location of employees and equipment in underground workings, which will improve the safety of mining operations. The program combines precise positioning of personnel and underground vehicles, traffic light control, wireless communication, collision avoidance, air atmosphere control, hazardous area monitoring and video surveillance.
The Precise Positioning system (PPS) project is one of the key projects in ERG's Digital strategy,” said Timur Madin, Project Manager at Business &Technology Services (ERG's IT division). - In Kazakhstan's MMC, it is one of the largest projects of such kind. It includes both preparation of infrastructure on the surface and underground. It also includes the purchase of modern equipment from the world's leading PPS manufacturers. For example, the length of fiber-optic communication lines at various levels of the mine is about 80 km. And the integrated solution allows dispatchers to see online how many miners are underground at each level in the system, the data is personalized for each employee. This includes name, surname, position, indicators of gas analyzers built into lanterns, battery charge status of each device and much more.
The positioning system is based on the miner's lights which are built-in sensors, provided when descending into the mine. Using the lanterns the dispatch center can track the movements of personnel online. Each lantern is equipped with a SOS button for emergency signaling. The system also provides reliable communication by allowing text messages to be sent to the miners' lanterns. The mine also provides radio communication via wi-fi.
Besides the precise positioning of personnel and machinery, SPPT offers additional functions: search for people under the rubble, text communication with employees in the mine, warning of dangerous proximity of machinery and personnel. It also provides traffic light control of underground traffic, and video surveillance in the mine.
Another important function of the PPS is aerogas control in the mine at various levels. The lanterns have built-in sensors that warn of gas accumulation, helping to leave dangerous areas in time. Stationary gas analyzers are also installed at various levels, which detect excessive gas levels in the atmosphere and warn dispatchers about it.
- Investment in this project is an important step of Kazchrome on the way to creating “smart mines” that meet the highest global standards of efficiency and safety. This is not just another technical upgrade, but a fundamental strategic decision on the way to the global transformation of Kazakhstan's mining industry,” says Baurzhan Utemisov, Director of Donskoy GOK. A tremendous amount of work has been done to integrate digital monitoring systems, automate production processes and introduce elements of artificial intelligence. As in any innovative project of this scale, we continue to refine certain technical and organizational aspects to achieve optimal performance.
In the future, the positioning system will be integrated with other elements of the enterprise's digital infrastructure to create a unified information environment for operational management of all production processes.
