1. Global Positioning
Systems in the
Mining Industry
A look at Technology transfer pertaining to mining
This paper covers the technology transfer of GPS (Global Positioning System) applied to the mining
industry.

2. Cierra J. Meier
Global Positioning Systems in the Mining Industry
Exploring Technology – “Technology Transfer”
November 15, 2012
A technology transfer is a process in which a technology developed in an industry for a
certain purpose is applied and used in an alternative place for a different purpose. There are three
different categories of technology transfer. These include research to commercialization, one
culture to another and one application to another. Today, we will examine a technology transfer
from one application to another applied to the efficiency of the mining industry.
Firstly, in order to transfer a useful technology to an industry, we require a technology
that is valuable and does something for us. In the case we are looking at, this is a global
positioning system, also known as GPS. Most people are familiar with a GPS as most vehicles
today are equipped with some sort of GPS technology. Military grade GPS are incredibly
accurate and is available for civilian application. This technology is used for positioning of tanks,
“precision engagement” for the air force and other accurate strategic positioning of military
resources. This transfers directly into the mining industry. The global positioning system
provides the accurate location and one of the software links was developed by Halltech. There
are many different service providers to this technology, but Halltech is one of many valued
suppliers to federal, provincial, state government, and mineral exploration companies. This
means they supply the Global positioning equipment to companies or parties that request it.
Secondly, this technology transfer has been used in conjunction with software programs
to most companies in the mining industry. This is not restricted to a handful of mining
companies in North America. Argentina has made Global Positioning Systems mandatory in all
of the mining sites. It is virtually standard that global positioning systems in open pit mines are
incorporated into the machines. The way that they are included in the machines helps mines track
an array of different things. It is integrated into the machines in several ways; this includes but is
not limited to vehicle tracking, dragline control, collision avoidance, and Digital Terrain Model
Management. This has made mining much more efficient because mines are able to track all

3. different types of information about their equipment including where it is located, and how it is
running. It is not just limited to the equipment being tracked. Blast hole patterns are tracked via
global positioning systems to help ensure that ore is blasted into small enough pieces for mining
equipment to handle. In the event that blast hole positions are not close enough and the ore is too
large for mining equipment to handle, it will cost more money and consume more resources on
the mine’s part to correct this. The use of a global positioning system more or less eliminates
room for error because it assists in mapping accurately. According to Automated Positioning
Systems out of Brisbane Australia, out of the twelve mining pits dug overburden amounted to 3.2
million cubic meters and showed an average of 3.86% of over dig and 1.82% of under dig. Over
burden is all the unwanted topsoil that is not ore. Under dig occurs when excavation is not
removing all of over burden. Over dig happens when ore is excavated too deep and sent away
with overburden. After Global Positioning Systems were introduced, three pits containing 1.5
million cubic meters of excavator dug over burden showed an average of over dig of 0.99% and
under dig of 0.93%. As stated by APS, the reduction in over dig was sufficient enough to pay for
the systems within a few months.
Thirdly, the way global positioning systems has assisted mining companies all around the
world is shown by increased efficiency in mining operations. Global positioning systems provide
increasingly accurate maps of mines to help track vehicles as mentioned above. Since the units
are able to track wear and tear on the vehicles as well, it is decided which vehicles are sent on
longer runs. This also saves on replacing parts on trucks because mileage and hours ran is
tracked. Draglines are used in removing large amounts of overburden in coal mines. Global
positioning systems accurately detect where excavators have already dug and tracks depth of
excavation.
In conclusion, global positioning systems have assisted mines in becoming more effective
by means of tracking different forms of data in mining procedures including how deep
excavation is occurring, where it is occurring, wear and tear on equipment and boundary lines of
mines. This is all important information that is used to help mining companies save money and
resources by applying a guidance system to assist in accurately tracking maps and statistics that
help mining operations run smoother.

4. Works Cited
"Argentina Makes GPS Use Mandatory Mine Sites." Mining Weekly. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov.
2012. <http://miningweekly.com/article/argentina-makes-gps-use-mandatory-mine-sites-
2010-10-28>.
"Contributions of the Global Positioning System." Contributions of the Global Positioning
System. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/cc/pinker.html>.
"Digital Elevation Models / Digital Terrain Modeling (DEM/DTM)." Digital Elevation Models /
Digital Terrain Modeling (DEM/DTM). N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
<http://www.stesalit-inc.com/demdtm.html>.
"GPS in Mining." Global Positioning Systems, Data Management and Mining Technology. N.p.,
2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.
<http://technology.infomine.com/reviews/GPS/welcome.asp?view=full>.
"Halltech | Home." Halltech | Home. N.p., 2011. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.htex.com/>.
"Â ." Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012. <http://www.apsmining.com/default.aspx>.
"Universal Technical Resource Services, Inc." Technology Transfer. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov.
2012. <http://www.utrs.com/technology_transfer.html>.