Birch, J 2008, 'Data Acquisition with 3DM Analyst Mine Mapping Suite', in Y Potvin, J Carter, A Dyskin & R Jeffrey (eds), SHIRMS 2008: Proceedings of the First Southern Hemisphere International Rock Mechanics Symposium, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 531-540, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/808_13
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/808_13_Birch/)
Abstract: 3DM Analyst Mine Mapping Suite is a digital photogrammetric software system that allows accurate three-dimensional (3D) data to be generated in a wide range of environments. Recent developments have focussed on enhancing its ability to be used underground, for geological and structural mapping, as well as surveying and shotcrete thickness measurements.

Recent trials have demonstrated that surface models of underground mines, that are accurate to better than five mm root-mean-square (RMS), can be generated with less than 15 minutes of fieldwork and 10 minutes of processing. Although this level of accuracy is overkill for most applications, this allows shotcrete thickness to be quantified very accurately, in less time and at a fraction of the cost of a laser scanner, with the advantage that the same data can be immediately used for geological and structural mapping. Unlike using probe holes to assess thickness, the issues with taking point measurements to represent an area of the surface are avoided, as are the problems associated with the orientation of the probe holes and the creation of weak points that can initiate cracking of the shotcrete.

Because the same data can be used for such a wide range of applications, the need to physically inspect the heading at all is greatly reduced. Also, because the images form a permanent record, the ability of supervisors to inspect mapping for accuracy and completeness and for surface models to be revisited in light of new information can be invaluable.

The same tools that have been developed for shotcrete thickness measurement can also be used for monitoring slopes of open pit mines for movement, with accuracies at least as good as the best laser scanners used in mining today and over longer distances.

This paper presents the results of some of these recent trials and how they compare to the alternatives.