Geotechnical Monitoring Instruments
Geotechnical monitoring instruments make your mine safer and easier to manage.
Because underground mines are constructed and operate below the earth’s surface, they are affected by changes in the rock, soil and general topography surrounding them. Rock masses, soil deposits and other geographical features are not totally consistent and stable. Instead, they change and move slightly all of the time – and sometimes move or change form enough to threaten the safety and ongoing productivity of the mine.
Aside from the natural stresses that occur in and around underground mines, they are also subject to man-made stresses, either those that are caused inadvertently or, more commonly, those that occur as a result of mining operations, e.g. mine induced seismology caused by blasting, which can increase the stress and load on rock and soil within the mine and increase the risk of collapse or other failure.
To mitigate these risks, it is important that geological and geomechanical factors are continually assessed by using geotechnical monitoring instruments. This practice allows mine engineers to regularly check that all movements are within a safe range, and respond and investigate when necessary.
In the event of a sudden geological movement that has the potential to lead to a catastrophic event, the data that the geotechnical monitoring instruments installed in the mine is invaluable, as it helps engineers to accurately quantify the problem and take action to safeguard the personnel and equipment in the affected area. They can then perform ongoing monitoring to determine whether the actions taken are working and sufficient. If not, the data can be reassessed and further actions taken.
Our range of geotechnical monitoring instruments consists of:
- SMART MPBX (Multi-Point Boreole Extensometer)
- SMART Cable Bolt (7 strand cable bolt with built-in 6 wire miniature extensometer)
- SMART Cable-SP (spun into position instead of being grouted)
- SMART Contractometer (for measuring convergence)
- SMART GMM (Ground Movement Monitor)
- Sloughmeter (for monitoring caving and sloughing)
- ThermistorString-NTC3K (rugged, easy to install thermistor string)
Click here to find out more about our range of geotechnical monitoring instruments.
