Monitoring systems for warning impending failures in slopes and open pit mines

Abstract

Slope stability is a critical safety and production issue for mining. Major wall failure can occur seemingly without any visual warning, causing loss of lives, damage to equipment, and disruption to the mining process. Monitoring systems, ranging from simple piezometers and extensometers to highly sophisticated radars and global navigation satellite systems, are employed to predict impending instabilities and failure. Here, we provide a review of the available monitoring systems used in slope management and highlight their major advantages and shortcomings. We propose a simple method for evaluating the effectiveness and reliability of monitoring systems to warn of pending slope failures. The method is based on constructing monitoring reliability maps for the slope by evaluating two slope parameters: Expected deformation to failure and critical reading frequency, which depend on the slope characteristics (e.g., geology and design), service condition (e.g., rainfall, blast), and the economic impact of the failure. The reliability of a deformation monitoring system can be subsequently assessed by identifying three parameters of the system: Coverage area (large or discrete), Deformation monitoring precision, and Measurement frequency. The application of the method to most commonly used deformation monitoring systems is demonstrated. The advantages and implications of the proposed method are highlighted.

Complementary Use of Information From Space-Based Dinsar and Field Measuring Systems for Operational Monitoring Purposes in Open Pit Iron Mines of Carajás Mining Complex (Brazilian Amazon Region)

“…A classification scheme of the available monitoring systems for open pit mines was recently presented (Vaziri et al, 2010). In this scheme, ground movement measurement techniques were divided into surface measurements at discrete points with specific instruments (total stations/reflecting prisms, extensometers, etc.…”

A Study on the Slope Failure Monitoring of a Model Slope by the Application of a Displacement Sensor

“…Many studies on early warning systems for natural and artificial slopes have provided a base for further research on early warning systems [13][14][15][16]. Although many studies are being carried out to reduce the damage caused by landslides, it is still difficult to predict landslides [16][17][18]. Thus, the prediction of landslide occurrence is paramount for issuing landslide warnings and mitigating casualties and property damages.…”

Application of persistent scatterers interferometry for surface displacements monitoring in N5E open pit iron mine using TerraSAR-X data, in Carajás Province, Amazon region

“…Currently, the most commonly used field surface displacement monitoring methods are optical leveling, total station reflective prisms or Global Positioning System (GPS) (Vaziri, Moore and Ali 2010). These types of survey provide updated information with sub-millimetric to centimetric resolution from localized areas.…”