Mine operation monitoring system

• US 9,234,426 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Inventors: Morrison, Mark, Usher, John, Green, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Assistant Examiner(s): Akhavannik, Mohammad H
• Application Number:
  US13/500,778
• Publication Number:
  US 20130016104A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21F 17/00 Methods or devices for use in mines or tunnels, not covered elsewhere mine lighting F21, H05B
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/41885 characterised by modeling, simulation of the manufacturing system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31466 Display position of different workpieces, tools in system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method of monitoring a mine operation is disclosed. The method comprises collecting map data associated with a mine operation, the map data being indicative of at least one map representation associated with the mine operation, collecting mine equipment location data indicative of the location of at least one item of mine equipment relative to the mine operation, and facilitating selection and display of a map representation associated with a mine operation. When a map representation associated with a mine operation is displayed, a representation of at least one item of mine equipment on the map representation at a representative location relative to the mine operation.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a mine operation, the method comprising:

collecting map data associated with a mine operation, the map data being indicative of at least one map representation associated with the mine operation;

collecting mine vehicle location data indicative of the location of at least one mine vehicle relative to the mine operation;

facilitating selection and display of a map representation associated with a mine operation; and

when a map representation associated with a mine operation is displayed, dynamically displaying at least one mine vehicle identifier on the map representation at a representative location relative to the mine operation, the mine vehicle identifier visually representative of a mine vehicle such that the mine vehicle identifier has the appearance of a mine vehicle;

displaying status information associated with at least one mine vehicle, the status information discernible by the appearance of the mine vehicle identifier;

wherein at least one mine vehicle identifier has a plurality of different associated discernible identifier modifications, each identifier modification being visually representative of the appearance of a respective mine vehicle and each identifier modification being associated with a different status corresponding to;

whether the mine vehicle is full or empty;

and

wherein in response to a change in status of an item of a mine vehicle, the appearance of the mine vehicle identifier associated with the mine vehicle dynamically changes to show a different identifier modification and thereby indicate the change in status of the mine vehicle.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the discernible identifier modifications comprise different identifier colours and/or different identifier features.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the identifier modifications correspond respectively to different maintenance states and/or different operational status.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the each identifier modification is further associated with a different status corresponding to:

the direction of travel of the mine vehicle;

or

the speed of the mine vehicle.

5. A system for monitoring a mine operation, the system comprising:

map data associated with a mine operation, the map data being indicative of at least one map representation associated with the mine operation;

at least one data collecting device, each data collecting device being associated with a mine vehicle and being arranged to collect mine vehicle location data indicative of the location of the item of mine vehicle relative to the mine operation;

a client device controllable by a user, the client device being arranged to facilitate selection by a user and display of a map representation associated with a mine operation, and when a map representation associated with a mine operation is displayed, to dynamically display at least one mine vehicle identifier on the map representation at a representative location relative to the mine operation, the mine vehicle identifier visually representative of a mine vehicle such that the mine vehicle identifier has the appearance of a mine vehicle;

wherein the client device is arranged to display status information associated with at least one mine vehicle, the status information discernible by the appearance of the mine vehicle identifier;

wherein at least one mine vehicle identifier has a plurality of different associated discernible identifier modifications, each identifier modification being visually representative of the appearance of a respective mine vehicle and each identifier modification being associated with a different status corresponding to;

whether the mine vehicle is full or empty;

and

wherein in response to a change in status of a mine vehicle, the appearance of the mine vehicle identifier associated with the item of mine vehicle dynamically changes to show a different identifier modification and thereby indicate the change in status of the mine vehicle.

6. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map data is associated with reference location information and the system is arranged to use the collected mine vehicle location data indicative of the location of at least one item of mine vehicle and the reference location information associated with the map data to determine the representative location of at least one mine vehicle on the map representation.

7. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map data associated with a mine operation comprises a plurality of data layers.

8. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the map data associated with a mine operation comprises any one or more of map imagery;

terrain data;

cadastral tenement data;

drill collar data and downhole drill hole information;

environmental data;

ground disturbance data;

hydrology data;

infrastructure data;

mine planning data including mine layouts;

operational data;

regional data including data indicative of coast lines, national parks and towns; and

/or data indicative of the weather and/or of fire hot spots.

9. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the client device is arranged to facilitate selection of the resolution of the displayed map representation.

10. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system is arranged to dynamically display a representation of a mine vehicle on the map representation only when the resolution is higher than a defined level.

11. A system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the system is arranged to periodically refresh mine vehicle location data and to update the display location of the at least one representation of at least one item of mine vehicle and between refreshes to extrapolate and display the relative position of the item of equipment.

12. A system as claimed in claim 5, comprising at least one server arranged to serve map data and mine vehicle location data to the client device in response to control of the client device by the user.

13. A system as claimed in claim 5, comprising a plurality of equipment databases, each equipment database arranged to store mine equipment location data and status information derived from one or more items of equipment associated with a different mine operation.

14. A system as claimed in claim 5, comprising a still and/or video camera in the vicinity of an item of equipment associated with an equipment identifier, wherein the system is arranged such that selection of the equipment identifier initiates a video and/or still camera feed from the camera.

15. The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the each identifier modification is further associated with a different status corresponding to:

the direction of travel of the mine vehicle;

or

the speed of the mine vehicle.