A Comparative Study of RTK Drones and Laser Profiler for Bench Face Profiling in Opencast Mines

Abstract

The constantly evolving mining technology has forged the way for innovative approaches to optimize mining operations on the surface and underground mines. Surface mining operations are conducted in the form of open-pit mining in which the ore is extracted from the earth by forming benches and blasting the same. One critical aspect of open-pit blasting is the face profile of the bench where the blast will be conducted. The presence of undercuts in the bench which is not visible to the bench surface if not taken into consideration during the blast design may lead to a face burst which is hazardous. So, having a bench profile during the blast design could lead to optimization in the production as well as the safety aspects of mining. The laser profiler is a well-established technique for obtaining high-resolution topographical data from the bench faces, which can be converted into an accurate bench face profile. It offers precise measurements and has been widely used for many years. On the other hand, the RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) drone represents a newer, safer, and potentially more efficient alternative that promises less time consumption in data acquisition and increased accessibility due to its aerial capabilities. This study compares the accuracy, data acquisition speed, and ease of implementation of both techniques. Field experiments were conducted in an iron ore mine and the data collected from both techniques were then processed for comparison purposes using suitable software. The accuracy comparison was done using some common parameters from the bench including the burden and spacing values from the drilled patches. This comparative study provides valuable insights regarding the strengths and limitations of the laser profiler and RTK drone for bench face profiling. The findings provide essential information that is useful to mining experts and decision-makers who are looking to optimize their operations and select the method that is the most fit for their requirements. The findings of this study contribute to the development of mining practices and the promotion of environmentally responsible mining operations in the future, which is important given the ongoing progression of mining technology.