Whilst it is true that mine surveyors in Deep/Underground mines do also carry out surveys above ground, their main work is carried out many hundreds of meters under ground. Boliden Mineral, one of Sweden's largest mining companies, with mines both in Sweden and abroad, is one example that surveying, notwithstanding the low physical effort, is performed to a high technical standard.
Responsible for the surveying work in the different mines inside Boliden is Carl Boman, Chief Surveyor and one of Sweden’s approximately 20 authorised mine surveyors. Calle, a nickname that all his friends use, is chairman of the Swedish Mine Surveyors Committee and the Swedish representative in the International Society for Mine Surveying.
Calle tells us,
" We have used instruments from Leica (Wild) during many years. Our first Total Stations were TC1000/1600. Nowadays, we have invested in both TPS1000 Series and the new TPS1100 Series. We have equipped our instruments with ATR for easy aiming to a prism, which also gives us an opportunity to use a remote control when suitable. Lately, we have bought the new instrument TCRA, with the possibility to measure without a reflector."
Leica visited the Renström mine, a mine north of the town of Boliden recently in October, where I met Kennet Johansson and Kenneth Nyström, two of the new generation of mine surveyors. In a rickety mine elevator, we went down to the 850 -level to get a closer look at their working environment.
They comment:
- " A car is a must in the mine, to transport the equipment between the different tasks. We have chosen a pickup, tailor-made for our needs. We do many different measurement tasks here, profiling; setting out bore holes and so on. In addition to that, we also measure a lot above ground. The place of work is tough, you can sense the pressure from the walls, and the environment is aggressive against both man and machine.
- The ATR target recognition on TCA1100's have radically changed the methods and given us easier aiming and measuring. Applications programs in the instrument for Resection, Setting Out, Reference line and support for coding in field, is an absolute must today.
- Our control points are consequently mounted in the walls. Despite that, it happens frequently that they are destroyed by passing vehicles. "
Safe up on Terra Firma again, Calle shows how the data is taken care of in the Microstation system adapted to Boliden needs. There, data is converted quick and easily to graphical pictures, for documentation and evaluation.
" We use an in-house developed software package for calculation of the measurements done in the mine. Our own routines then transfer the calculated co-ordinates and point descriptions directly to Microstation. Out of the system, we then gather all information that geo-technicians and planners use for their work, and not least for reports to the authorities.
Mine surveying in Sweden is an exacting profession performed under difficult and harsh conditions, and great respect must be paid to your instruments, methods and personnel; a visit to Calle and his crew in Boliden is proof of this.
The fact that the reporter thinks that 850m below ground is a low level, is something completely different.
