A live streaming system could be the next step for mine site operators looking to get ahead of haul road degradation before it has an impact on production, according to one Australian engineer.

Following the launch of its Proof Mobile Dust Monitor last year, Australia-based Proof Engineers is looking to market its Road Condition Monitor, which it says is a major technological advancement for the measurement and monitoring of haul road performance across mine site roads.

Developed in partnership with Australian forensic and aeronautical engineer firm Delta-V Experts the Proof Road Condition Monitor (PRCM) has been specifically designed for the purpose of measuring road and pit performance, predominantly for, but not limited to, mine site use, the company says.

The PRCM is designed to effectively and automatically evaluate the state of haul roads, and determine hotspots for grading through collated live-stream data.

The 12V powered PRCM device is fitted to haul trucks, water carts or any other specified light vehicle operating onsite.

The monitor includes an in-built triaxial system that continually measures and records vibrations generated by the vehicle as it passes over the road surface.

With full site mapping calibrated, the system can be viewed by mine site managers using an integrated 3G network, which highlights exactly where and when roads need to be repaired, Proof says.

As the vehicle travels across the site, vibration data is recorded and processed based on the International Roughness Index (IRI) – the worldwide standard for the evaluation and management of road systems.

Results are then generated and displayed in a colour scale, which can be accessed by mining operators via an online platform.

As the live stream technology allows for immediate site action, Proof Engineers’ general manager Fiorella Ignacio said the PRCM not only optimises secondary machinery use, but it also ensures mine sites maintain optimum road conditions on an ongoing basis, ensuring haulage is carried out in a safe manner, with minimum rolling resistance.

“The Proof Road Condition Monitor is a cost-effective solution for all mine sites and provides quantitative data that accurately reflects the site’s conditions, without human subjectivity,” Ignacio said.

“Haulage roads are a major production element in mining and have direct influence on the site’s operating performance – if a road is poorly maintained, it will not only impede production, but can result in a range of issues including higher rolling resistance, damage to machinery, unnecessary tyre wear, driver discomfort, dust generation and most importantly, creates an unsafe operating environment.

“The PRCM allows operators to essentially by-pass these issues, by providing an objective assessment of the sites’ road and pit conditions.

“As soon as a road shows signs of deterioration, operators can be notified and immediate corrective action can be implemented.

Contact: (07) 5522 0855

http://www.theajmonline.com.au/mining_news/news/2014/august/august-14-2014/supplier-news/next-gen-tech-for-haul-road-monitoring