Mining and infrastructure manufacturer and service Epiroc is expanding its digital solutions for the surface mining industry. The company’s Situational Awareness and Blast Support products join the company’s existing digital offerings: Emergency Support, PocketMine, Event Automation, Tags and Virtual Tags.

With over 10 years of experience and 40-plus installations globally, Epiroc is now taking the safety technologies previously called Mobilaris Mining Intelligence to the surface mining market.

“The world’s best digital decision system for underground mines has just surfaced,” says Hans Wahlquist, Epiroc global director of product management. “Our technology-agnostic solutions are improving safety at mining sites but also increasing efficiency by reducing the time spent looking for people or assets.”

“Although open-pit mining faces different challenges than underground operations, it also shares many similarities,” Wahlquist adds. “We are now unleashing battle-proven solutions from underground mines to create new values for surface mines.”

In a press release, Epiroc says the new surface offering includes several solutions with the following new features:

Situational Awareness comes with a new feature called Zone-based Messages, which enables the personnel in the control room to send messages from the Situational Awareness application to people in designated areas of the mine. These messages can be information, warnings or alarm messages.

Blast Support is a new digital decision support tool to ensure improved personnel safety at blasting. 3D visualization with open-space positioning gives the control room an overview of everyone's location.

“Before pushing the blast button, it is crucial to ensure that everyone is at a safe distance. But at the same time, it is important to blast on time so as not to jeopardize the next shift's opportunities to deliver. With Blast Support, you can evacuate designated areas for blasting. With real-time tracking of people through tags, you can be sure that the area is cleared,” says Magnus Nilsson, product manager.

Epiroc serves customers in the mining, infrastructure and natural resources industries in more than 150 countries. It develops and produces drill rigs, rock excavation and construction equipment, and also offers services and consumables. For more information, visit epiroc.com.