Method of Surveying and a Surveying System

• US 20140149039A1
• Filed: 11/25/2013
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Inventors: Nettleton, Eric William, McHugh, Charles Benjamin, Pal, Annette
• Granted Patent: US 10,557,709 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/5
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00

Abstract

A surveying system 10 includes a data storage system 12 containing survey data defining a terrain model 14 of a region 16. A processor module 18 is configured to interrogate the data storage system 12 automatically to assess characteristics of the survey data to determine whether or not the survey data require updating and to provide instructions automatically to scanning equipment 26, 28 to scan the region 16 to provide updated survey data to the processor module 18 to enable the processor module 18 to update the terrain model 14.

Claims

1. A method of surveying which includes

automatically assessing characteristics of survey data defining a terrain model of a region to determine whether or not the survey data require updating;

if updated survey data are required, automatically surveying the terrain to generate updated survey data; and

updating the terrain model using the updated survey data.

2. The method of claim 1 which includes assessing at least one of the quality of the survey data and the age of the survey data in assessing whether or not to update the survey data.

3. The method of claim 1 which includes using information relating to activities in or proximate the region in assessing whether or not to update the survey data.

4. The method of claim 3 which includes monitoring activities of equipment in or proximate the region.

5. The method of claim 3 in which the activities relate to mining operations and in which the method includes using changes in or proximate the region resulting from mining activities to determine where scanning needs to occur to obtain updated survey data.

6. The method of claim 1 which includes controlling sensors associated with the region to scan the region to obtain updated survey data.

7. The method of claim 6 which includes using fixed point sensors to scan the region.

8. The method of claim 7 which includes causing the fixed point sensors to scan the region automatically.

9. The method of claim 6 which includes using at least one mobile sensor pack to scan the region.

10. The method of claim 9 which includes conveying the at least one mobile sensor pack on an autonomous platform.

11. The method of claim 9 which includes conveying the at least one mobile sensor pack on a non-autonomous platform with sensors of the at least one mobile sensor pack operating automatically.

24. Software that, when installed on a computer, causes the computer to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A surveying system which includes

a data storage system containing survey data defining a terrain model of a region;

and

a processor module configured to interrogate the data storage system automatically to assess characteristics of the survey data to determine whether or not the survey data require updating and to provide instructions automatically to scanning equipment to scan the region to provide updated survey data to the processor module to enable the processor module to update the terrain model.

13. The system of claim 12 in which the processor module is configured to assess at least one of the quality of the survey data and the age of the survey data in assessing whether or not to update the survey data.

14. The system of claim 13 in which the survey data in the data storage system is time-stamped on being input into the data storage system to enable the age of the survey data to be monitored.

15. The system of claim 12 in which the processor module is configured to receive information relating to activities in or proximate the region to enable the processor module to determine whether or not to update the survey data.

16. The system of claim 15 in which the activities relate to mining operations, the processor module using changes in or proximate the region resulting from the mining activities to determine where scanning needs to occur to obtain updated survey data.

17. The system of claim 12 which includes the scanning equipment which is responsive to instructions from the processor module to scan the region automatically and to provide the updated survey data to the processor module.

18. The system of claim 17 in which the scanning equipment includes a plurality of sensors associated with the region to scan the region to obtain updated survey data.

19. The system of claim 18 in which the sensors include fixed point sensors for scanning the region.

20. The system of claim 19 in which at least some of the fixed point sensors are configured to scan the region automatically.

21. The system of claim 18 in which the sensors include at least one mobile sensor pack to scan the region.

22. The system of claim 21 in which the at least one mobile sensor pack is mounted on an autonomous platform.

23. The system of claim 21 in which the at least one mobile sensor pack is mounted on a non-autonomous platform with sensors of the at least one mobile sensor pack being configured to operate automatically.