Mine Tracking System - Bruceton Mine Test

This is a short clip of our Miner Tracking System test at the Bruceton mine in PA.

Tragedies at the Sago Mine, the Aracoma Alma Mine, and the Darby Mine have brought renewed attention to an old problem: situational awareness in mine emergencies. Improved communication is a partial, but not a complete, solution to the problem. Mine emergencies often involve dense smoke and dust that impair visibility and disorient even those familiar with the mine layout. Additionally, miners overcome by carbon monoxide cannot communicate useful information to potential rescuers. Location awareness is an important aspect of the overall problem of situational awareness. In too many cases, mine fatalities might have been avoided if rescuers knew the location of trapped or disabled miners.

In the event of trouble, knowing the precise location of the miners at risk can greatly assist rescuers. The more quickly the rescue team can reach miners at risk, the more likely the rescue operation will be successful. Currently, there is no technology capable of determining the precise location of underground miners. Interim location solutions being rushed into mines in the wake of recent tragedies are unlikely to provide the necessary precision and performance. The results of the present effort indicate that Near-Field Electromagnetic Ranging has great promise for providing accurate real-time location information of miners.

Learn More: http://www.q-track.com/

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Miner
• Tracking
• Bruceton Mine
• Q-Track
• NFER
• NIOSH