MODELLING AND CONTROL OF COAL QUARRY MINING USING VIRTUAL REALITY

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 1, 853-860 pp

ABSTRACT

The technological process applied to coal opencast mines is based mainly on a continuous technology: an excavator, long-distance belt transport and if need be, a spreader. These extensive systems are controlled remotely from central control stations.
For some purposes, the visualization of the technological process using SCADA/HMI
systems is insufficient. On the basis of this research, procedures for the creation of
virtual models of technology, mining process and opencast mine were proposed. Virtual
models are designed for the control of mining process, planning, modeling of safety and
operating situations. For the control, models can be interconnected with automated
systems of technological units or their technical models. Gradually individual parts of
the technology were designed, interconnections were defined, and virtual models of
technological units were created. The models were implemented in several
environments and the result is a complete model including the opencast mine
technology, surface and other objects. At interconnection to the geological and mining
models of the opencast mine it is also possible to simulate a comprehensive situation in
the opencast mine. In the article we describe procedures for virtual model design and
solution.

Keywords: coal mining, opencast mine, modeling, visualization, virtual reality