Publicerat den: 2021-06-03
As the demand for minerals is increasing and mines are getting deeper, most modern mining companies are now looking for solutions to digitalize their operations to improve safety, efficiency, and productivity. A standardized high-performance communication network is the foundation to manage this digital transformation. Modern technology requires modern communication infrastructure. Just as a communication network is a foundation, positioning services are almost as essential.
Lundin Mining’s Zinkgruvan is located in south-central Sweden, 15 kilometers from the town of Askersund. It has been in continuous production since its opening in 1857, focusing on zinc, lead, and copper concentrates.
Together, Zinkgruvan Mining and Mobilaris started a digitalization project in 2019 to set up a unique, full site coverage, communication, and positioning infrastructure at the Zinkgruvan site. The solution is based on an LTE network, for high speed and capacity, with seamless functionality between the different areas of the site. The underground LTE installation is one of a kind. It makes the Zinkgruvan site future-proof and the network will work with 5G mining that is coming around the corner.
During the project, a new product was developed to find a positioning solution that worked with the LTE network and Wi-Fi. It is now known as the Mobilaris Virtual Tag.
One of the requests from Zinkgruvan Mining was to find a positioning solution that didn’t require that the personnel in the mine had to carry any more tools or equipment. With Mobilaris Virtual Tag, the positioning solution integrates with their mobile phones, and there is no need for additional tools or equipment. Mobilaris Virtual Tag also enables a flexible roll-out of positioning infrastructure. Combined with BLEs, it enables Zinkgruvan to decide in which areas a better positioning accuracy is needed.
With the communication and positioning infrastructure in place, the next step has been to evaluate digital solutions from Mobilaris with the goal to improve safety and efficiency. During 2020, Mobilaris Situational Awareness, has been implemented and evaluated.
With Mobilaris Situational Awareness, the position of vehicles, equipment, and personnel is presented in a 3D user interface on the operations center monitoring screens. This information makes it possible to control the operations and resources better, and people can act upon what is happening and make smart decisions faster. Valuable time searching for tools and equipment can be turned into production.
The set up of the visualization solution at Zinkgruvan
A safer place to work
To improve safety at the Zinkgruvan site, Mobilaris Emergency Support application is being installed. In the case of an emergency, people underground will be notified via Mobilaris Virtual Tag. The mobile terminal will start to sound, blink and vibrate. The control room is notified when users have received the message and acknowledged the message. Also, when every minute counts, the rescue team will know the position of people underground and focus on those who have not reached a rescue chamber.
About Zinkgruvan Mining
Zinkgruvan Mining produces metals needed to make our modern and sustainable lives possible. Our end products are concentrates of zinc, lead and copper which are sold in the global metal market. Zinkgruvan Mining is part of the international group Lundin Mining with a total of 4,200 employees in six countries. Zinkgruvan is Sweden’s southernmost underground mine and has been in continuous operation since 1857.
MMI visualizing positioning at different zones at the sites, both indoors and outdoors.