5 Must-Have Features in a Underground Sensors

A global focus on sustainability is leading mining companies deep underground in search of the materials needed for clean energy generation. These underground mining facilities will be key to our future as the surface mine availability of vital minerals such as nickel and copper falters. But underground mining is beset with hazards. These range from the danger of cave-ins to the potential for asphyxiation from noxious gases. Because of this, it is vital for mining companies to deploy advanced monitoring systems that can help improve overall risk management and the safety of mine workers.

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Getting the monitoring part of the mining equation is not easy. Each mine is different and there are many potential technologies that companies can use to meet their particular circumstances. However, there are several keys to success that can help mining companies make the right decisions when it comes to monitoring systems. Here are five of the most important.

1. Avoid wired networks

Mining environments are highly complex, with tunnels and galleries branching off in all directions. Using wireless data transmission technologies to monitor risk points across those types of environments is tricky. Just picture the solid, pure rock walls in underground mines. The physical obstacles that can interfere with radio signal coverage are manifold. But expecting busy mining crews to look out for ethernet cables is even more complicated. Although wireless technologies have obviously restricted ranges underground, there are ways these restrictions can be overcome. And the benefits of having wireless, battery-operated monitoring devices which can be connected to existing sensors and systems far outweigh the suitability of cable networks in most situations.

2. Choose long-range LoRa (IoT) technology

Wireless IoT-based technology has become a go-to-reference in underground monitoring. A typical network technology used in this scenario are mesh networks. In terms of range, node-to-multi-node communications like mesh can achieve up to hundreds of meters of coverage. Long-range LoRa Star topologies, in comparison, have proven to work well in mine layouts where there is line of sight, such as main tunnels, ventilation shafts and room and pillar mines. But both network topologies may struggle in more convoluted environments. Hence, Worldsensing advises using a long-range LoRa tree topology, where the network can branch to reach smaller, hard-to-reach spaces.

3. Look for sub-gigahertz solutions

Short-range mesh networks tend to work at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. This is fine above ground but is rapidly attenuated underground by features such as water in rocks. As a consequence, such technologies will rarely go beyond one hundred meters in a single data transmission hop and might struggle to get to a few meters. Sub-gigahertz technologies, on the other hand, can achieve much longer distances underground. They can reach several hundred meters in the case of medium-range mesh networks, and achieve several kilometers with long-range LoRa technology arranged in a tree topology.

4. Seek reliable vendors

Underground environments are harsh, and a loss of monitoring data can result in critical incidents. Hence, it is important you choose a technology provider that has a top-of-line quality system including ISO and industry certifications. Reputation, in-field experience and Internet of Things (IoT) expertise matter. You want to rely on a support team and organizational structure that complement your team. Worldsensing technology has been field tested across over 130 mines worldwide including surface and underground projects. Besides device and network durability, working with a leading vendor can ensure your monitoring data will be easily integrated into your own or a third-party data visualization systems.

5. Beware of scaling

You may want to start small by connecting only a few geotechnical or structural sensors to an IoT device and network technology for wireless data capturing and transmission. But what if you want to scale or reconfigure deployments in line with the excavation process. Some network technologies are suited to small underground monitoring deployments and limited pilots, also based on their price and easy of implementation. But what if you are looking to scale or redeploy the network along the mine’s project needs. That’s when you’d want to use a technology which can manage data collection of hundreds of devices through one gateway in a singel network.

“In medium and short range mesh networks, you will end up needing more gateways, resulting in more maintenance and more potential points of failure,” says Andrea Bartoli, Chief Technology Officer at Worldsensing. “Working with sub-ghz long-range tree topology offers underground mines the perfect mix of efficiency, robustness and scalability.” he adds.

Nowadays, many hardware products in waste management sensorics lack important features or sacrifice quality for a lower price.

Sensoneo experts have been active in the smart waste management business already 10 years since , and we are fully aware that producing durable and accurate ultrasonic sensors in large quantities is no easy task. Let’s face the truth: these days, almost any skillful student can produce electronics. However, producing electronic devices that will survive the harsh conditions typical in the world of waste management requires a great deal of valuable experience. We have identified the 6 best and most important features of our ultrasonic bin sensors for remote waste monitoring, which distinguish them from the competition in the smart waste market.

DURATION

Robustness and resistance are key characteristics of our ultrasound sensors for remote fill-level measurement. Our sensors are ultrasonic, robust, water and shock-resistant, fully functional within a wide temperature range, equipped with fire and tilt alerts, and capable of measuring from 3 cm up to 400 cm. Every sensor we produce is made in the EU. We make no compromises on quality, ensuring the top-quality service that our customers deserve.

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The resistance of our devices was recently proven in a case that occurred at the stand of the underground bins on New Year’s Eve. The Sensoneo sensor survived the fire and was still working! Waste is often the target of public vandalism. When designing products for the demanding environment of the waste management industry, we consider not only the wide range of temperatures, shocks, and dirt but also these kinds of unpleasant situations. Our ultrasonic sensors with IP69 casing are built to withstand everything necessary to survive in the field. That is why our sensors even survived the fire caused by flares during New Year’s celebrations—and they still measure!

DATA TRANSMISSION

A very important aspect of data-driven waste management, and a challenge in this business, is transferring data from every corner of the country. That is why we do not limit customers to a certain network, because, at the end of the day, customers do not care about the network itself, but solely about the data. Based on this data, they can make quality data-driven decisions. Smart Sensors from Sensoneo can be connected to a variety of IoT networks, including Sigfox, LoRaWAN (also known as Lora), NB-IOT, and the Cat-M wireless technology network. If an Internet of Things network is not the right fit for the customer, transmission via GPRS is a safe option. Payload and network communication are encrypted on two levels, preventing false use of Sensoneo Sensors for DDOS attacks.

LARGE-SCALE

One of the most decisive factors when deploying waste monitoring sensors into containers is reliable production and mass deployment. Producing and installing a single sensor is easy, but imagine producing 1,000 or 5,000 units. Production of sensors in such quantities requires well-tuned processes and sophisticated quality assurance for every single product. Imagine producing 5,000 sensors and having a 5% defect rate. Some might say 5% is negligible, but in this case, it means 100 defective products, which would destroy customer trust in your hardware. Therefore, producing electronic devices for the waste management industry is a huge challenge. Customers should carefully consider from which company they are buying their products.

Sensoneo ultrasonic sensors will also be deployed in the largest smart waste installation worldwide, which will take place in Madrid and include more than 11,000 Sensoneo sensors for waste fill-level monitoring.

VERSATILITY

Sensoneo can monitor any type of waste, including liquids, so customers can feel perfectly comfortable whether they manage mixed waste, clothing, electronics, glass, bio waste, or anything else. Sensoneo can install sensors into any bins, whether they are -liter containers, small city bins, semi-underground containers, or even custom-made bins. Over the past years in the smart waste management business, we have deployed our ultrasonic sensors in all kinds of environments, such as silos, large compactors, boreholes, containers for old books, hospital bins, and even shredding boxes in a bank. We can install the sensors in all of these environments, providing the same benefits to the customer.

Another versatility advantage is in the software: customers should not worry that Sensoneo will disrupt their current waste management systems. It can be easily integrated, allowing customers to combine the benefits they need.

EASY-TO-USE

Deployment of the Sensoneo solution is incredibly simple; if customers prefer, they can even configure the solution themselves. The solution is highly user-friendly and very intuitive, as we consistently hear from our customers. For instance, Juraj Kunak, CEO of textile waste collector Ekocharita, provided a great description of the sensor deployment. Here is what he said about installing Sensoneo ultrasonic sensors in their containers:

“We installed the sensors ourselves following a 2-hour training from Sensoneo, and we were surprised by how easy it was – it takes less than 5 minutes to install and set up the sensor.”

Ekocharita is currently using remote monitoring to detect fill levels in more than 600 bins with the goal of more effective textile waste collection.

CITIZEN ENGAGING

Trash, garbage, cans, or glass bottles scattered around the bin are common issues that our Citizen App aims to tackle by involving people in the waste management cycle. By using our app, available for free on iOS and Android, citizens can easily find the nearest required type of container, see the real-time fill level of the bin, and instantly notify the waste collection company of any problem at any container stand.

In this way, citizens help keep communities cleaner, free of trash, and maintain an efficient waste management cycle. Monitoring bins in cities and towns of all sizes with smart sensors is a wonderful opportunity to engage citizens more in the municipality’s waste policy, motivate them to reduce waste production, and increase their interest in responsible recycling practices. Our developers can even create a custom software solution to better connect with your citizens.

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