Powerful Communications!

In 2007, a global mining company moved to capture more of the growing demand for export thermal coal by investing in a green field mine site in Australia.

To achieve first coal production from the site by 2010, vital communications within the mine pit and surrounding area needed to be set up. This was so decisions could be made in real time to maximise mining efficiency, minimise time and cost to first coal production and ensure safety at all times.

The company engaged CSC as systems integrator to customise and deploy its Industrial Wireless Service^TM (IWS), providing a communications solution which would grow with the mine.

The Challenge

Communications had to extend from the wider mine area covering administration, workshop, and worker accommodation areas (with over 1,000 people), to the overland conveyer belt taking the coal to the rail head. The company needed environmental applications to gather and analyse data from environment monitoring systems recoding dust, noise and pollution levels whilst maintaining a safe worksite.

The Solution

Before selecting the best wireless system for the new mine site, the company commissioned CSC, with its wide experience and presence in the mining sector, to conduct a survey of their mine sites worldwide. This led to identifying products from Motorola and 3D-P as fit-for-purpose for the changing landscape of a green field mine site, and a combination which would grow and scale with the development of the mine.

Using an iterative and inclusive design approach, the joint project team incorporated Motorola and 3D-P technologies to address application and network requirements within the pit and across surrounding areas in a single pervasive wireless solution.

The IWS comprises: Wireless Broadband – the wide ‘pipe’ capable of carrying large volumes of data to and from the heavy vehicle fleet and large fixed assets such as the bore hole and monitoring systems. It also includes Digital Voice – the digital P25 two way radio network ‘skinny’ pipe extending 30 – 40 kms to the periphery of the mine. CSC had already conducted a review of three global standards for this for another customer and was able to make an informed recommendation.

A key success factor during implementation was the team’s ability to engage the correct people to ensure the work was prioritised and completed according to schedule and design. As technical lead and system integrator, CSC worked alongside a number of partners, including Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), Radio Communications Solutions (RCS), 3D-P (Mining Technology), and Motorola. They were also involved in product and pre-deployment testing with Modular Mining and Electro 80.

The Results

Savings continue through use of real time information from the Mobile Plant applications (Modular Mining, CAES and Aquila) and reliable real time data via IWS.

Supervisors are able to make immediate, informed decisions on current pit activities, and communicate either by digital voice or via the dispatch system back to field operators.

The de-coupling of application vendor wireless networks has ensured one wireless network supports all applications, reducing onsite support effort, spares, maintenance and licensing costs.