Beltana Installs Digital Tracking System
Xstrata Coal’s Beltana Coal mine, one of Australia’s most productive longwall operations, recently selected Mine Site Technologies (MST) ICCL cap lamps and digital RFID tracking system to support their on-going safety initiatives. Xstrata Coal has long had a strong focus on safety to support their production efforts, and hence identified opportunities for further enhancing safety at Beltana by introducing the new generation of light weight cap lamps and implementing a tracking system at the same time.
After an extensive evaluation of available technologies, the ICCL cap lamps and RFID tagging system were selected. Key points for the decision included:
- The ICCL cap lamps have been operating at a number of other coal mines near Beltana, including other Xstrata coal mines;
- The detailed engineering design of the tracking solution based on 802.11 Digital Access Points and AeroScout Wi-Fi tags met all their requirements;
- The RFID Tags are incorporated inside the ICCL cap lamp battery pack to ensure long term reliability and ensuring they are always with a person when they are underground;
- MST has track record of implementing underground 802.11 based digital communication
- infrastructure in a number of underground mines; and
- Compatibility, and approved for use, with Airstream helmets.
The initial installation consists of 200 ICCL Wi-Fi RFID tags for the workforce; 50 self-contained tags on underground diesel vehicles; 18 dual wireless ImPact Access Points; and Full AeroScout MobileView user and management software. In addition to the importance of tracking people for safety, Beltana’s management justified the cap lamp upgrade and tracking system implementation based on several criteria. The ICCLs are approximately one third the weight of the existing lead-acid batteries in use at the mine. The cap lamp and tag is one integrated unit. It allows the mine to manage the vehicle fleet and control access control to ventilation districts. The digital network established for tracking can also used in other applications over time, such as VoIP telephones for mobile two-way communication. www.minesite.com.au
(Content from Feb. 2008 Coal Age. To apply for a free subscription, click here.)