As Built-Documentation Tools in Action Underground
AAM has taken its as-built documentation tools underground to digitally document a 1km drift at a colliery south of Sydney. One of AAM’s specialist industrial survey teams was commissioned to capture high-density, accurate point data using the latest Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) technology and high-resolution spherical video imaging for visualisation purposes.
The team quickly captured 38 scans spaced every 30m down the 1:3.4 grade drift, which is used to transport materials, equipment and water down to the working faces of the underground coal mine, as well as bringing product to the surface. The drift is a cold, windy and dark place but this is no problem for a laser imaging device which emits its own light source and can scan under almost any lighting condition. Approximately 400 million 3D points were captured and now accurately represent the infrastructure inside the drift, including top of rail, conveyor and supports, pipes and internal surfaces.
As part of the AAM as-built documentation system, a modelling team extracted some of these salient features from the point data and converted them to CAD entities for more efficient analyses inside engineering software.
As part of the capture process, a SiteSeeV spherical video camera along with some special lights was also used to capture 360 degree imagery of the entire length of the drift. This means that engineers working on the drift, which is typically pitch black and an unfriendly environment, can traverse to any part of the route and make inspections from the safety and comfort of their desktop. This information can extend to safety staff to give inductions to new staff and contractors without needing to travel up and down the drift.
More information on TLS can be found here.
Information and demos about the 360 degree spherical video can be viewed here.
Above Left: A screen capture of the spherical video as the camera enters the drift opening
Above Right: A single scan looking down the drift, clearly showing the conveyor and footings, piping, rail and all surfaces.
