Feasibility Study and Technical Report - Pretivm

Radio communications will be established using a ruggedized, fiber-based, openstandard, 802.11, high bandwidth, underground wireless network and a Strix WirelessMesh surface network.The backbone of the network will comprise of gigabit network switches connected by acomposite cable that runs fiber and power to each device. Each switch will also house upto two wireless radios, giving pervasive wireless coverage along travel ways. This will alsoprovide the ability to make continuous VoIP telephone calls from the portal to the face,and complete asset and personnel tracking. The system will also have redundancy tokeep it running in the event that the fiber gets damaged. Figure 16.29 shows aschematic of the proposed typical underground communications system.Figure 16.29Underground Communications System SchematicThe network system “Head End Unit” will reside in the portal indoor substation. The twonetwork backbone cables will branch out through the portals into the undergroundaccess declines−one in the main access decline and one in the conveyor decline.Amplifiers will be spaced out between ultra-high frequency (UHF) coax cable segments atno more than 350 m spacing. A communications cable will also branch out at drifts asnecessary, with “end-of-line” termination antennas as required.PERSONNEL TRACKINGPersonnel tracking will be accomplished using a radio frequency identification (RFID) tagsystem. An integrated communications cap lamp will contain the RFID tag.Vehicles will also contain RFID tags and UHF radios. The system will be integrated intoMineDash, a browser-based tracking and reporting application, allowing operators andmine controllers to monitor, track and allocate personnel and resources.Movement of personnel, vehicles, and other assets will be monitored throughout themine. Having the ability to ensure that mine staff are accounted for in an emergency willincrease safety and speed the provision of help to any injured personnel. TrackingPretium Resources Inc. 16-65 1291990200-REP-R0012-02Feasibility Study and Technical Report on the BrucejackProject, Stewart, BC