Mine Site Technologies - Mining Communication Solutions

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 350 mines in Australia, Canada, China, USA, Peru, Chile, Mexico, Africa and Sweden.

Our key communication technologies include:

PED MINE COMMUNICATION AND EMERGENCY WARNING SYSTEM

PED is a through-the-earth communication system installed in over 150 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 communication system, as well as a general day to day communication system.

INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS CAP LAMP OR ICCL

Our cap lamp is much more than just a miner’s light; it can also contain any combination of underground mine communication devices, including PED text receiver, RFID tag and radio. By using Lithium-Ion battery technology all this comes in a package much lighter than traditional lead-acid battery units.

IMPACT WLAN – DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY FOR UNDERGROUND MINES

ImPact is the future of underground communications by taking a mine's LAN into the underground mine environment. Being based on the Wi-Fi 802.11b standard, ImPact is a digital mine communication system that 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 easy installation and maintenance underground.

Apart from the use of PDAs 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. Extensive vehicle data logging and diagnostic interfaces are also available to deliver this critical information in real time to maintenance and production personnel.

VDV LEAKY FEEDER RADIO SYSTEM

Our VDV system is the most advanced VHF leaky feeder radio system available, and is capable of 16 channels (32 if necessary) of two-way voice and data. Apart from standard two voice communications, the quality of VDV enables applications in telemetry and remote blasting.

TRACKER TAGGING SYSTEM

TRACKER relies on active tags (self contained or mounted in ICCL cap lamp), being detected by readers (either ImPact 802.11b digital access points or UHF readers) placed at strategic locations underground. Tracking underground enables more cost effective use of resources through the better management of vehicle fleets and personnel.

BLASTPED REMOTE - CENTRALIZED BLAST INITIATION

BlastPED remains the only radio-based remote blasting system in full time use at underground mines. Special receivers and 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 12 years of use at over 100 mines have ensured BlastPED provides a more cost effective and safer solution to remote, centralized blasting than more traditional cable based systems.