The deployment of ever-improving video surveillance technologies in the mining sector can assist in enhancing safety, mitigating poor visibility, bolstering analytics to improve operational efficiency and enhancing the security of mining operations from the perimeter to the rock face.

Axis Communications Africa sales manager Marcel Bruyns says that video surveillance and intelligence-related technologies are being applied to every aspect of mining safety.

“While mining fatalities in South Africa have declined steadily to record lows over the last decade, the country saw an 18% increase in 2020, driven by accidents related to falling rocks and transportation, and 2021 may prove even worse,” he says.

“As well as affecting employee safety, incidents can also be costly, as they initiate operation stoppages. Mining operations can also be disrupted by equipment failure, with post- incident repairs and replacements again causing costly downtime. “Thus, any opportunity for proactive maintenance should be welcomed.”

There has been an explosion in the capabilities of video surveillance analytics over the last few years, with use cases in almost every industry sector, including mining.

With deep learning now available in surveillance cameras, object recognition capabilities are becoming more accurate and, in the context of mining, this could be leveraged to ensure that workers are, for example, wearing the correct personal protective equipment before entering the mine or when moving around the site.

Further, ruggedised door stations, intercoms and network audio speakers used for communication and alerts can be used to help ensure that certain areas of the mine do not become dangerously overcrowded.

Another common challenge for mining operations is poor visibility; however, technologies designed to deal with low light or even near darkness are now commonplace in surveillance cameras, he says, citing examples of advanced infrared solutions that allow images to be captured in complete darkness, with cameras using integrated infrared illumination.

“Technologies that provide full-colour, high-resolution video in extremely low light also exist, and a wide dynamic range can deliver detailed images in challenging lighting conditions where scenes include both very bright and dark areas,” says Bruyns.

In addition, cameras are equipped with deep-learning-based analytic applications that can now detect and monitor a much greater variety of objects, including dust clouds, which allows for remedial action or proactive warning for local communities and workers.

With tons of earth being excavated, moved and processed during the mining process, and the inevitable dust by-product, the monitoring of dust clouds is important, as they can be formed and blown towards houses, schools or businesses, which poses a risk to the community’s health businesses and the environment.

In line with this, the use of on-board cameras is increasingly common to aid operators and drivers with awareness and safety, and on-board cameras equipped with thermal imaging can be an invaluable aid when visibility is obscured by dust.

“Body-worn cameras also have potential here, particularly for training and post- incident investigation.”

Video surveillance also has an important role to play in operational efficiency and security.

“Mining is a connected process, and any interruption will have costly knock-on effects. Prevention is always better than cure, and proactive maintenance ahead of failure is optimal,” he comments.

Video cameras placed at key points along conveyor belts can be linked to load sensors, alerting operators when load levels exceed limits and allowing visual verification.

Image stabilisation technology will ensure consistently clear video, mitigating the effects of the movement of structures and vibrations on video quality.

Temperature-reading cameras can also be used to monitor, for example, electrical cables and substations, giving early warning of issues and even automatically tripping the system and shutting equipment down before a catastrophic failure occurs.

“While perhaps regarded as the more traditional role of surveillance cameras, security remains a critical area of focus for mining operators. Mining sites can be huge, with perimeters that are impossible to monitor physically,” Bruyns continues.

Powerful pan, tilt and zoom video surveillance and thermal cameras play an essential role in accurately identifying breaches of the perimeter, reducing false alarms and prompting an appropriate response.

“When combined with network audio speakers, the ability of operators to engage intruders directly with live audio warnings, even if operators are kilometres away, is a highly effective deterrent to criminal activity.”

The multiple functions and formats of modern video surveillance cameras, allied to thermal, low-light capabilities and smart analytics, means that there’s a solution for every aspect of a mine’s operations.

“It is not only the functionality that is designed for the unique demands of the mining sector. Ruggedised cameras and those using stainless steel casings can withstand both the rigours of mining operations themselves and the harsh weather conditions often found in locations where mining takes place,” he explains.

In environments where bandwidth and storage are limited, video compression technology is available, preserving the detail of video footage while lowering bandwidth and storage needs by an average of 50%.

“Where integration between devices and control systems is critical, using products based on open standards delivers additional advantages ,” he concludes.