Brink, AvZ & Roberts, MKC 2007, 'Early Warning and/or Continous Risk Assessment of Rockfalls in Deep South African Mines', in Y Potvin (ed.), Deep Mining 2007: Proceedings of the Fourth International Seminar on Deep and High Stress Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 437-450, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/711_32
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/711_32_Brink/)
Abstract: This paper describes the development of a system that will provide early warning and/or continuous risk 
assessment of rockfalls in deep South African mines. A multidisciplinary team from the CSIR, South Africa 
has been developing a scalable risk/hazard monitoring system, based on a wireless sensor network concept. 
The first application of this underground wireless sensor network is the monitoring of precursory indicators 
of rockfalls. Continuous measurements will be undertaken primarily to identify rockfall hazards, possible 
precursors, or parameters indicating increased risk.  
With an improved understanding of failure mechanisms and where and when fatal rockfalls occur, the 
system requirements for detecting the theoretically likely precursors are being specified. Specifications 
included the expected dynamic range of these precursors, their rate of change, and the sensing resolution 
required. A statistical analysis of the identified warning parameters is undertaken to understand their 
interdependence and the correlation between them. It is likely that single parameters will not provide 
adequate risk measures or alarms. The critical parameters are being combined using Bayesian theory and 
other statistical methods to improve the accuracy and relevance of risk quantification and prediction. 
The application of wireless sensor network-based monitoring in deep and high-stress mining to provide early 
detection of potential rockfalls is the first of a series of anticipated applications of such technology to assess 
and mitigate mining hazard/risk in South African mines.