THE GASTAMINE SOLUTION
Using drones to inspect underground mine workings can reduce inspection time by 70% and up to 10 km can be inspected in a day with their help
The safety and efficiency of mining operations depends heavily on accurate gas monitoring. Currently, gases in underground mines are measured using portable instruments carried by operators.
The capabilities of the GASTAMINE prototype were tested up to TRL5 during the Horizon ECODRONE project (MINE.THE.GAP grant agreement no. 873149), which demonstrated the technical feasibility of the system: the drone can carry the weight of the sensor, and the wings do not affect the result or the continuity of the measurement.
Wireless sensor networks allow nodes to be connected using wireless communication technology. Together with a router and specialized connectivity technologies, it is possible to cover operational fronts.
Improving safety and reducing costs, aligning with the goal of zero accidents
The result will be a new tool to improve safety and reduces inspection costs in underground operations. The project is in line with the goal of zero accidents in construction and underground mines and will reduce the cost of tunnel inspections by at least 30%. The UAV will perform daily analysis flights on tunnel sections to collect instantaneous data on gas concentrations. The data will then be downloaded to a computer and compared with reports from engineers using the traditional handheld method. The GASTAMINE solution will provide real-time environmental health monitoring for workers, covering much larger mapping areas than current techniques, even in areas of the mine that have been abandoned for years or are difficult to access.
