SRK Consulting’s HiveMap Offers Speed, Accuracy, and Safety in Mapping
Originally published by Mining.com on September 12, 2024. This article is republished with permission from The Northern Miner. To read the full original article, visit The Northern Miner (Subscription Required).
SRK Consulting Launches HiveMap: A New Era in Digital Mapping
SRK Consulting is officially launching HiveMap, a cutting-edge digital mapping and outcrop analysis software designed to streamline the collection of geological data through the use of photogrammetry and LiDAR (light detecting and ranging) scanning technologies.
Previously known as EasyMineXR, HiveMap has been rebranded and refined, providing geologists and geotechnical engineers with a safer way to conduct mapping tasks without the need to enter hazardous surface or underground environments.
Data accuracy is crucial for developing high-quality geological interpretations, which are vital for both engineering and geoscience applications. Yet, many open pit and underground rock formations are not easily accessible, posing significant safety risks and limiting the effectiveness of traditional field mapping techniques.
One of HiveMap’s notable applications is its ability to detect large-scale fault patterns and maintain continuity in otherwise inaccessible pit slopes. The software also excels at grassroots mapping in mountainous regions, offering a level of geological analysis that was previously difficult to achieve.
“Conventional mapping practices required you to be up against or directly adjacent to the rock exposure, but the mining industry is now more risk averse and prohibits proximity to hazardous areas,” SRK senior rock mechanics engineer Andrew LeRiche said.
Findlay Fraser, SRK’s principal structural geologist, added that conventional mapping is hampered by limited access, bulky equipment, and lengthy post-processing times required to build a 3D model. “HiveMap, in contrast, is quick and easy to use, enabling mining operations to prioritize mapping efforts more effectively.”
Bridging the Distance
HiveMap also facilitates collaboration and data sharing by enabling field staff to capture geological observations on a tablet, then seamlessly transfer the data to a laptop version of the software for further analysis. This allows technical staff at the head office to collaborate with teams in the field.
“In an ideal world, we’d all go out and look at the outcrop, a pit wall or a rock face, but that’s not always feasible,” Fraser said. “HiveMap bridges that distance by bringing the rocks from the field to the office and allowing everyone to work together in a 3-D environment.”
According to Andrew LeRiche, SRK’s senior rock mechanics engineer, advancements in data collection technologies such as LiDAR and photogrammetry have played a significant role in the development of innovative mapping tools like HiveMap.
“As recently as ten years ago, data collection methodologies like LiDAR and photogrammetry weren’t as prevalent on mine sites. LiDAR, for example, was very expensive when it was first introduced but is now being used by many of the operations we work with,” he said.
“Using drones, we now see models being built with photogrammetry for $1,000, and in underground scenarios we’re seeing the use of iPhones with built-in LiDAR capabilities, so the ability to collect 3-D datasets is now easier than ever.”
‘Empowering’ Solution
SRK consultants are frequently hired by mining companies for field mapping, but these visits typically occur on an annual basis, often leading to long gaps between essential model updates, explained SRK principal structural geologist Findlay Fraser.
“It’s important that geotechnical engineers and grade control geologists on the ground are able to gather the information, make observations and map on a daily basis if it’s a critical area, but at least weekly or monthly,” he said.
“It’s not an ideal situation for an operation if mapping is so technically difficult and time consuming that you need to bring in consultants once a year.”
With HiveMap, mine staff in the field are empowered to be able to gather information and map more easily and more regularly, Fraser said.
“When I started in the mining industry, we’d be lucky to get a model update once a year,” Fraser added. “Sometimes, we had resource models in operating pits that we knew were wrong and had to rely on them for longer than was ideal because the conventional mapping tools were so difficult to use.”
Fraser noted that in today’s mining sector, expectations around the speed and precision of updating models have dramatically shifted. However, the tools for efficiently capturing and feeding data into 3D models are only now beginning to meet these new demands.
“If you want to operate safely, you need the most accurate and up-to-date representation of your geology possible,” Fraser said. “Similarly for grade control, if a geologist sees something is not right, it’s now possible using HiveMap to map the ore boundaries and update the model for optimal material routing on an expedited basis.”
Discover More About HiveMap
To learn more about HiveMap’s transformative impact on the mining industry, its innovative features, and how it’s setting a new standard for geological mapping, visit HiveMap3D.com.
This article was originally published by Mining.com in cooperation with SRK Consulting. For the full original content, please visit The Northern Miner (Subscription Required).