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International Conference On Opencast Mining Technology & Sustainability
International Conference On Opencast Mining Technology & Sustainability
International Conference On Opencast Mining Technology & Sustainability
Deploy Slope Stability Radar (SSR) with integrated visual imaging system or any similar such
technology giving a near real time monitoring of displacements of strata or dumps well in advance
of any failure and providing mine management sufficient time to safely withdraw men and
machinery from such prone areas. Such system would not only increase safety but also the
productivity and efficiency of opencast operations.
Conventional Slope Monitoring Equipment
Provide displacement only for a single site or at discrete sites. If displacement occurs in between
sites or monitored sites are too widely spread, indications of an impending failure might get
unnoticed.
Difficult to install at places where the highwall is steep and access is limited due to lack of
benches.
Constant shifting and relocation of monitoring devices is not only costly but also time consuming.
Why Slope Stability Radar (SSR)?
Slope deformation alarms can be set within a given range to alert mine workers and operators to
changes in mine slope behavior and act accordingly.
What is Slope Stability Radar (SSR)?
If the slope has moved any tiny amount, the change of
phase between one received signal and the next will be
proportional to the movement in slope.
The deformation is either measured in millimeters or sub-
millimeters depending upon the precision of SSR used.
Fig.2.The change of phase (1) between one received signal (2) and the next (3)
is proportional to any movement (4) which has occurred between the scans.
SSR Methodology
The instrument is generally located 50 to 450m back from the area of slope to be scanned for
stability.
The data collection begins with a preliminary scan to get the initial condition of slope which
serves as a reference for subsequent scanning.
A series of digital images are taken covering the entire slope area by the radar which enables the
user to have a visual representation of the slope from which two-dimensional slope area can be
analyzed.
Each scan contains information of phase for every pixel which are compared to the first scan and
all the scans prior to it.
Once the comparison is made, the measurements can be deciphered through measuring the
difference between phase of two different scans.
Two different scans targeting the same area
produces an interferogram which is subtracted
from previous or original scan to measure any
distance that might have taken place.
V-1 = ×
Where V-1 = Inverse velocity
A = Slope of the inverse velocity trends
= Time of Failure
= Time when prediction is done.
= Constant which values vary between 1 and 2.
Fig. 5. Time–inverse-velocity trends (Dick et al, 2015)
Slope Gradient Method
SSR is precise, continuous and more reliable for collecting data in real time along with recognizing
the failure modes.
In addition to these, SSR predicts the time of failure and alarms are triggered when the
deformation rate reaches a minimum threshold value.
Having this system installed at an open pit mine allows for more aggressive slope design while
preserving a safe working environment for personnel
References
Blackwell G., Keast M.& Pow D. “Slope Monitoring at Brenda Mines”, pp 59-60, 1975.
Graham J. Dick, Erik Eberhardt, Albert G. Cabrejo-Liévano, Doug Stead, and Nick D. Rose,
“Development of an early-warning time-of-failure analysis methodology for open-pit mine slopes
utilizing ground-based slope stability radar monitoring data”, University of British Columbia, 2015.
Neeraj Kumar and M. Nawghade, “Slope Stability Radar A Need for Open Pit Mines Stability”.
IJSRD - International Journal for Scientific Research & Development, Vol. 4, Issue 02, 2016.
Noon D. A., “Slope stability radar for monitoring mine walls”, Mine Risk Management Conference,
2003, pp1-10.
Taser D. J., “Simulation of a slope stability radar for opencast mining” , Msc. Eng Thesis. University
of Cape Town, 2003, pp 6-9 .
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