Mine Site Technologies (MST) is the largest specialized mining communications system supplier in the world, particularly underground communications. Our communication technologies are in use 24 hours a day at over 250 mines in Canada, USA, Australia, China, Chile, Mexico and Sweden

Our key communication technologies include

PED Communication & Emergency Warning System
and the Integrated Communication Cap Lamp (ICCL)

PED is a through-the-earth communication system installed in over 120 mines. PED's unique ability to transmit directly through hundreds of meters of rock strata enables it to provide true mine wide signal coverage. As such PED is used in many mines as the primary emergency warning system, as well as a general day to day communication system.

PED's emergency warning capability is well documented by MSHA, having been credited by MSHA and mine officials as being instrumental in saving a five lives at Willow Creek Coal Mine in 1998.

A range of receiver types increases the application of PED to more than just personal paging, as it is also extensively used for remote equipment control and remote blast initiation (see BlastPED below). More information can be found here.

PED's emergency warning capability is well documented by MSHA, having been credited by MSHA and mine officials as being instrumental in saving a five lives at Willow Creek Coal Mine in 1998.

Integrated Communications Cap Lamp (or ICCL)

The ICCL is much more than just a miner's light, it can also contain any combination of PED Text Receiver, Tag and/or Radio.

All in a package one third the weight and size of current lead-acid battery packs (see picture on the right).

See more information at this link

VDV Leaky Feeder Radio System

Our VDV System is the most advanced VHF leaky feeder radio system available.

Capable of 16 Channels (32 if necessary) of two-way voice & data. VDV is operating in over 80 mines in Australia, USA, Chile, Canada and Mexico. VDV relies on the use of leaky coaxial cable run through the mine to act as an antenna.

Apart from standard two voice communications, the quality of VDV enables applications in telemetry and remote blasting. Remote telemetry and control of fans, pumps, etc. can give significant cost benefits to a mining operation.

VDV is often used in conjunction with PED. VDV's two way, line-of-sight signal coverage works well with PED's mine wide, one way coverage.

More information on VDV Leaky Feeder Radio can be found here.

TRACKER Tagging System

Our latest version of TRACKER relies on active Tags, self contained or mounted in ICCL cap lamp), being detected by Readers (Beacons) placed at strategic locations underground. We have not just tried to apply a generic tagging system to underground mining, TRACKER has been designed by MST specifically for underground applications. TRACKER enables more cost effective use of resources through the better management of vehicle fleets and personnel.

Typical applications include:

• Keeping track of personnel in a mine for safety and clearance at blast time.
• Better management of vehicles and haul trucks; e.g. tracking a truck carrying ore, confirming it does go to the ore stockpile, not waste, and alerting the driver if he is going to the wrong location, etc.
• Streamlining the access control to area underground; e.g. where emergency breathing apparatus number require limitations on the number of personnel entering certain sections of the mine; or where ventilation limitations restrict the amount of diesel equipment to be in a particular zone, etc.

BlastPED Remote Blast Initiation

BlastPED remains the only 'radio' based remote blasting system in full time use at underground mines. Special receiver/exploders receive signals from the PED transmission system (or via the leaky feeder system) to allow the remote initiation of blasts.

High levels of security, and refinements during its 9 years of use have ensured BlastPED provides a more cost effective and safer solution to remote, centralized blasting than more traditional cable based systems. A version of BlastPED is also available for surface mines.

More information BlastPED remote blasting can be found here.

ImPact WLAN Technology for Underground Mines

ImPact is the future of underground communications through taking 802.11b technology into the underground environment. Being based on the 802.11b standard, ImPact allows the use of the vast array of off-the shelf peripherals to now be easily implemented underground. However, and importantly, ImPact's WLAN infrastructure is not just a collection of off-the-shelf access points and routers, but a system designed and manufactured specifically for underground. Robust housings and simple installation (low voltage ImPact Access Points, not typical 110/240 VAC Access Points, make ImPact simple for miners).

Apart from the use of PDA's for uploading reports and pre-shift inspections seamlessly into the mine LAN, communication through VoIP phones and streaming video are all opened up to be used underground.

Leaky Feeder Radio does a good job, but for the mines of the 21st century, leaky feeder just does not have the capacity (bandwidth) to allow mines to monitor and automate to the level required. ImPact can.

More information on ImPact WLAN for Underground Mines can be found here.