Proximity detection workshop, NSW Mine Safety, 2011, mining, health, safety

1. A mine sites viewpoint.

2. Wilpinjong
Coal Mine
Ulan
Coal
Mine
Project
Area

3.  Moolarben Coal Mine is a joint venture of, 80%
Yancoal Australia, 10% Sojitz & 10% the Korean
Consortium
 Initially an open cut operation, which commenced
dig NOV 09 with a 100% new fleet of equipment.
 Truck and digger operation.
• Current fleet of 12 Komatsu 830E-AC rear dumps
• 2 Liebherr 996 and 1 Liebherr 9350 excavators
 Trucks and excavators fitted with Modular Mining
“ShiftBoss” system incorporating proximity
detection

4.  System is only fitted to Haul truck and excavator
fleet
 Concerns about head tail collision potential
principle driver for looking at Proximity system

5. The system at Moolarben Coal consists of the
following basic components,

6.  PTX unit - Operators touch screen.

7.  Antenna array. Incorporating 802.11 wireless
and GPS.

8.  Base stations, both fixed and mobile access
points.

9.  Production reporting
 Mine monitoring (Historical recording)
 Hornless Horn operation
 Payload (Truck to Excavator) communications
 Tertiary communication ( TEXT / Emergency )
 PROXIMITY DETECTION
• Vehicle to vehicle detection
• Vehicle to hazardous location detection

10.  Production information on equipment locations, payloads,
dump areas and operator information.

11.  Historical dot trace can be displayed for a set period of
recorded data.

12.  Excavator to Truck communications allows
the use of the “Silent Horn. This is a critical
function at Moolarben due to the close
proximity of our neighbours.

13.  Information sent between excavator and truck
allows accurate and optimum loading.

14.  The system allows basic text messages to be
sent from operator to operator, or be
broadcast from a controller.
 The system also incorporates an Emergency
broadcast function.

15.  System uses a Distance Based ( Bubble )
algorithm.

16.  System produces a “Warning” or “Danger”
message when the virtual bubble interacts
with either
• Another bubble surrounding other equipment.
• Or crosses a preset threshold surrounding an area
or a hazard.
 This algorithm is best suited to open areas
such as dig and dump points. It is important
to note that these areas are the most
congested and highest risk for collision.

17.  This shows the interaction between a haul
truck and excavator. The excavator operator
receiving a “Warning” that the haul truck has
entered his area.

18.  Here we see the interaction between two haul
trucks. The operator receives a “Danger”
message due to the proximity of other trucks.

19.  When equipment crosses the threshold on a
location the operator receives a “Warning” or
“Danger” message depending on the setup.

20. POSITIVES
 Gives operator warnings
 Alert / redirects attention to possible
hazards

21. NEGATIVES
 Lots of False positives generated
 Bubble based technology (DUMB)
 100% System reliability is paramount (Not
being achieved due to series vulnerabilities)
 Deskilling operator possibly creating
complacency (MOTHERING!)
 Hazardous Locations require constant
management (human element)

22.  Do we wish to pursue the ideal of 100%
foolproof alert technology.
 Are Current available technologies suitable
for Moolarben??
 Do we incorporate light vehicles into system
and how?
 How do we maintain operator alertness and
avoid creating complacency

24.  Questions?