Next generation positioning applications for open pit mines

Working to provide mining customers with the most compelling high-precision GPS applications, Novariant, Inc. and Wenco Intl. Mining Systems have formed a partnership that integrates Wenco’s BenchManager suite of applications with Novariant’s Terralite(tm) XPS system. The integrated solution, available from June 2006, will support virtual ore control and guidance applications for shovels, dozers and drills, with almost 100% positioning up-time.

The combined offering delivers the most accurate and most available bucket-positioning solution on the market. The system determines cuts and fills, orientation and dig limits. It also sends data to the host system and collects as-built data. One of the unique features of the Wenco system is the ability to determine the precise bucket location by measuring joint angles with accelerometers. When the system is combined with Novariant’s MX100 receivers, operators and mine planners can accurately determine the position of each load, ensuring all assignments and ore qualities are based on the latest-dig block model.

Novariant’s Terralite XPS delivers over 99% GPS position availability in open pit mines, even where GPS positioning alone is problematic. Machine-mounted MX100 receivers are capable of reception of both GPS and XPS signals from Terralite transmit stations set up around the rim of the pit.

For more information, visit www.novariant.com/mining or www.wencomine.com.