VERTICAL-03 / MINE SAFETY
Mine infrastructure monitoring: threats seen before they reach workers.
Active and decommissioned mine sites face three distinct hazard categories: unauthorized entry by non-personnel, structural subsidence preceding collapse events, and trapped-personnel localization after an incident. The Tarysar sensor mesh addresses all three from a common deployed node network.
SCENARIO-01 / OPERATING CONDITIONS
Three problems, one sensor infrastructure.
Unauthorized access: Active and legacy mine sites face unauthorized entry for ore theft, copper scavenging, and trespassing in structurally compromised sections. Surface perimeter controls are routinely defeated. The Tarysar acoustic and seismic mesh detects entry and movement within the mine corridor network, generating alerts when personnel signatures appear in restricted sections.
Subsidence monitoring: Structural displacement in mine workings typically precedes a larger collapse event by hours to days. The seismic mesh detects micro-displacement events — crack propagation, support failure, stope wall movement — that fall below the threshold of conventional ground motion sensors installed at the surface.
Trapped-personnel localization: After a collapse or isolation event, acoustic localization of personnel — based on movement, voice, and deliberate signaling (tapping patterns) — gives rescue teams a position estimate before human entry. GPS is unavailable, radio often fails. The mesh relay provides the communication pathway to reach sensors in the affected section.
| Scenario | Primary modality | Alert type |
|---|---|---|
| Unauthorized access | Acoustic + seismic | Personnel presence |
| Structural subsidence | Seismic (array) | Displacement event |
| Trapped personnel | Acoustic (passive) | Position estimate |
| Excavation activity | Seismic + acoustic | Machinery signature |
FIT-02 / DEPLOYMENT CONSTRAINTS
Deployment constraints and mitigation protocols.
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Explosive atmosphere: operational constraints acknowledged
Underground mine environments may contain methane, coal dust, or other combustible atmospheres. The current Tarysar sensor module is not ATEX or IECEx certified for use in classified hazardous zones. Deployment in potentially explosive atmospheres requires customer assessment of zone classification and appropriate operational protocols. Non-explosive atmosphere mine sections (abandoned metal mines, decommissioned hard-rock workings) are the primary application scope.
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Moisture and humidity management
Mine tunnel environments are high-humidity — often near 100% RH with active water ingress. Sensor node enclosures are rated IP65 for dust and water jet resistance. Extended continuous immersion or direct water flow over nodes is outside rated conditions. Magnetic wall-mount position above floor water level is recommended deployment practice.
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Personnel localization without GPS
Localization in GPS-denied mine environments relies on time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) across the sensor mesh. Position accuracy degrades with node spacing and substrate variation. Current field test results indicate ±15m position accuracy at 100m node spacing in concrete corridor substrate — internal data, not independently verified.
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Low maintenance cycle for decommissioned sites
Decommissioned mine sites require monitoring coverage with minimal maintenance visits. Battery-swap protocol: 72-hour cycle per node, swap accessible from surface entry points or shallow service access. Mesh auto-heals around swapped nodes with no configuration required.
Mining operations inquiry.
Mine site monitoring engagements involve detailed site characterization — substrate type, corridor geometry, explosive atmosphere zone classification, and access constraints. We discuss those parameters in initial technical conversations before any system configuration recommendation.