Innovative Technologies for Slope Stability Monitoring in Opencast Mines – vis-a-vis Synthetic Aperture and Cable Based Radar

Abstract

This paper presents critical review on available methods and advanced technologies for slope monitoring in opencast mines including SSR, TDR etc besides total station monitoring system for mines, and status of research through the ministry of Mines sponsored S&T project on TDR technique. Critical review of various methods and advanced technologies for slope stability monitoring indicated scope of SSR –which is very costly (about Rs. 4-5 Crores), and recent developments in TDR ( About Rs. 20 lakhs) as promising methods for its application to mines besides conventional total station monitoring. Slope stability is one of the leading problems faced by opencast mines. The conventional geotechnical sensors are generally monitored by technicians in the field and the available wireless monitoring systems like SSR, LiDAR are more expansive. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the different cost effective real-time slope monitoring systems. By deploying the wireless Data Transmission System using advanced antennas at respective slope instruments in underground or opencast mines, we can collect data without any physical connections. Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are well suited to monitor the movement and it consist of sensor nodes which measure physical quantities and transmit the preprocessed measurement results to a base station wirelessly. Developments in information and communications technology (ICT) support the collection, connection and analysis of data through sensing and monitoring of slopes in mines.