Originally founded in 1992 and headquartered in the United States, Strata Worldwide has established a strong worldwide presence with corporate facilities in South Africa, Australia and at multiple locations across the US. The company has become a leading global provider of products, technologies and mining services that promote higher levels of worker safety and high quality on-the-job communications. Strata’s product portfolio is suitable for all mining environments, including coal and metal/nonmetal operations, and both underground and surface mining.
COMMUNICATIONS AND TRACKING
Strata Worldwide’s communication systems offer unmatched versatility and expandability, providing multiple choices for customized capabilities and functionality. The 100% truly wireless Strata CommTrac network forms a mesh-like backbone that facilitates battery-powered communication, tracking, system monitoring and remote system control.
The StrataConnect server and user interface then generates the background processing that enables the data from the wireless, sub-surface network to be displayed on a computer screen at the surface. This specifically designed graphical user interface integrates all underground systems into a single user platform including a live mine-map with real-time views of underground activities.
Tracking devices are worn by workers and/or mounted onto machinery to track and monitor the locations of both personnel and equipment. Strata’s tracking system not only functions as an automatic digital “register” for shaft clearance, but also identifies where personnel is, and in which direction they are traveling – information that could become vital in an emergency situation. Trackers mounted onto machinery enable mine operators to track and monitor equipment during day-to-day activities, as well as assist in locating any missing machinery underground.
The dynamic locations of all mobile tracking devices – personnel-worn and machinery-mounted - are viewable on the user interface in real time. Full awareness of everyone underground, including their whereabouts, translates to a greater level of mine-wide safety.
Additionally, tracking assets during day-to-day activities assists in the running of productive and efficient operations. Data retrieved from the tracking devices can be used for measuring production and calculating trends, and problem areas can be highlighted for closer observation.
TWO-WAY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
A unique feature of the Strata tracking devices is an emergency alert option. By rapidly pressing the power button on the unit, a flashing LED is activated and a distress signal is sent to the surface. Additionally, in the event of a mine-wide emergency that requires the attention of all personnel underground, broadcast alerts can be sent from the surface to all underground tracking devices simultaneously.
VOICE
With a simple network expansion, voice can be achieved by integrating Strata’s Wi-Fi technology into existing fibre-optic cables. Strata Wi-Fi access points create an underground “hot spot” to provide digital voice calling and high-speed data access utilising any standard IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi-enabled device. These access points are fully interoperable with the Strata wireless CommTrac system, which creates a complete, comprehensive communications, tracking, monitoring and remote control underground network solution.
MONITORING AND REMOTE CONTROL
Leveraging the utility and flexibility of Trolex gas detection and atmospheric monitoring systems, mine operators have the ability to wirelessly monitor underground environments and control electronic devices from any computer on the surface.
Measuring and monitoring of hazardous and explosive gas concentrations, air- and/or gas-flow velocity, air temperature, humidity and pressure is performed by the highly reliable Trolex units underground and the data streamed to the surface over Strata’s wireless networks. Going a step further, operators can control gas detectors, fans and pumps, including turning them on and off, reading levels, manipulating thresholds and activating alarms, all from remote locations at the surface.
StrataConnect’s remote capabilities also include monitoring and control of the mine’s belt lines. Monitoring includes belt speed, belt stoppage, belt misalignment and belt tension. Operators can remotely monitor the temperature of the bearings and start or stop the belt on command.
For more information please contact us at +27 12 450 0960 or info@strata-safety.co.za. Visit us online at www.strataworldwide.com/za