Monitoring service with WIPAS for the management of mine in Chuquicamata

Challenge, what was done and our results

Challenge:

To have access to a high-speed information highway that allows:

• Remote monitoring of mining processes using portable cameras.
• Remote monitoring of mining processes using fixed cameras.
• Multimedia transmission/reception capacity to and from pick up vehicles parked within the open pit.
• Vital Signs Data transmission/reception capacity to and from the shovels.

What was done

• An Access Point and a Master Wireless Terminal have been installed on the tower of Patio-7.
• In order to capture the vital signs of the shovels, the gíreles network is based on a Mobile gíreles Communication system that deliver the information to the WIPAS equipment network.
• Monitoring cameras have been setup on the pole and light truck with visual control on the open pit allowing the system to be remotely monitored from an office.

Results

• WIPAS equipment has proved to be maneuverable, operative reliable and stable in the open pit environment based on the result obtained in two years of operation.
• It allows to decrease the downtime in the shovels which the cost of opportunity is equivalent to US$ 300 K per hour.
• Wireless network is more suitable than wired network for pit because the continuos terrain changes and broadband requirements.
• The future vision of remote operation of a pit will be achieved by using and deploying these enabling technologies