Abstract
Monitoring of the surface operations using movement and surveying radar (MSR) can prevent loss of: life, equipment, production and loss of the mine. Slope monitoring using MSR is an important aspect of open-pit mining as it provides real-time movement of deformation data for the slope. It is therefore important that the radar is accurately geo-referenced in order to provide accurate real-time movement data. Geo-referencing is defined as the process of determining an instrument’s position (in the form of X, Y, Z) as well as the orientation with respect to the mine’s local coordinate system. This helps in getting geo-referenced data points from the radar that are identified by a unique set of coordinates in relation to the mine’s coordinate system which allows the radar to track movement for a specific set of coordinates. In this research, we assess the performance of geo-referencing a radar using the total station method and compare it with the integration of Advance Navigation – Spatial Dual system GPS connected via RS422. This includes assigning the Spatial Dual navigation coordinates (Easting, Northing and Height) output to the radar’s azimuth and elevation (Az, El and Range) coordinates from the motor encoders. Furthermore, a comparison of key attributes of both methods of geo-referencing methods is performed using a matrix system and giving an overall performance appraisal of both systems. Integrating a navigation system allows the radar to have an auto geo-referencing functionality that will reduce the time spent in completing this process. The findings reveal that the GPS obtained a higher score than the total station with prism method on the weighted matrix system....
M.Tech. (Electrical and Electronic Technology)