Long respected for its contribution to mine safety, Proximity Detection System (PDS) specialist Booyco Electronics has highlighted how data can be leveraged to improve safety on mines while making it more productive and efficient. 

“For many years, our PDS have allowed customers to collect data on the movements of their mobile trackless machinery and their personnel,” says Graeme Jardine, Chief Sales Officer at Booyco Electronics. “As the mining sector embraces the power of the digital twin approach, the value of this data is further enhanced as it can now be used to virtually model the optimisation options on a surface mine.”

Jardine explains that modelling allows the benefits of any operational improvements on a mine to be evaluated in advance of implementing them. Changes to existing systems and processes can introduce risks and costs, so it is important for mines to pre-test options as far as possible – quantifying their potential  benefits in advance. 

“Using a digital twin – the virtual equivalent of the machine in the field – mines can model a number of proposed scenarios and choose the one that is optimal for their operation,” he says. To illustrate this point, he uses the example that through heat maps created via Booyco’s Electronics Asset Management System (BEAMS) software suite a scenario depicting  haul trucks experiencing excessive standing time waiting to be loaded. The mine can use digital twin modelling to investigate the detailed implications and costs of diverting some trucks to an added excavator or shovel. By quantifying costs and benefits more accurately, an informed  decision can be made, making the best use of the available capital and resources – and positively impacting the bottom line.

For Booyco Electronics customers, their years of collected data through PDS and the Booyco Electronics Asset Management System (BEAMS) software suite, which is a central information hub linking the proximity detection hardware products with monitoring devices, e.g. control room environment. positions them well to advance with digital twin technology – as this data can now be used to populate a modelling system.

“The modelling process may require an extended period’s worth of data to be input, before the results can be regarded as representative and meaningful,” says Jardine. This means that they will not have to wait months or years to generate the necessary data from scratch. As a leader in this field since 2006, Booyco Electronics is able to leverage its technology to harness the potential of digital twin modelling .

“We have taken many mines through the process of applying PDS technology, and are now well positioned to walk a similar journey with them towards a digital twin value add,” he says. 

Long respected for its contribution to mine safety, Proximity Detection System (PDS) specialist Booyco Electronics has highlighted how data can be leveraged to improve safety on mines while making it more productive and efficient.

“For many years, our PDS have allowed customers to collect data on the movements of their mobile trackless machinery and their personnel,” says Graeme Jardine, Chief Sales Officer at Booyco Electronics. “As the mining sector embraces the power of the digital twin approach, the value of this data is further enhanced as it can now be used to virtually model the optimisation options on a surface mine.”

Jardine explains that modelling allows the benefits of any operational improvements on a mine to be evaluated in advance of implementing them. Changes to existing systems and processes can introduce risks and costs, so it is important for mines to pre-test options as far as possible – quantifying their potential  benefits in advance.

“Using a digital twin – the virtual equivalent of the machine in the field – mines can model a number of proposed scenarios and choose the one that is optimal for their operation,” he says. To illustrate this point, he uses the example that through heat maps created via Booyco’s Electronics Asset Management System (BEAMS) software suite a scenario depicting  haul trucks experiencing excessive standing time waiting to be loaded. The mine can use digital twin modelling to investigate the detailed implications and costs of diverting some trucks to an added excavator or shovel. By quantifying costs and benefits more accurately, an informed  decision can be made, making the best use of the available capital and resources – and positively impacting the bottom line.

For Booyco Electronics customers, their years of collected data through PDS and the Booyco Electronics Asset Management System (BEAMS) software suite, which is a central information hub linking the proximity detection hardware products with monitoring devices, e.g. control room environment. positions them well to advance with digital twin technology – as this data can now be used to populate a modelling system.

“The modelling process may require an extended period’s worth of data to be input, before the results can be regarded as representative and meaningful,” says Jardine. This means that they will not have to wait months or years to generate the necessary data from scratch. As a leader in this field since 2006, Booyco Electronics is able to leverage its technology to harness the potential of digital twin modelling .

“We have taken many mines through the process of applying PDS technology, and are now well positioned to walk a similar journey with them towards a digital twin value add,” he says.

Booyco Electronics, a leading provider of innovative safety solutions in the mining industry and pioneer of Collision Prevention Systems (CPS), is pleased to announce its upcoming webinar in partnership with Mining Review Africa. Titled “Human Touch in High-Tech: Mastering the Crucial Role of People in Collision Prevention Systems” this webinar will shed light on the indispensable contribution of human expertise in the realm of cutting-edge collision prevention technology.

Scheduled to take place on Thursday July 20, 2023 at 14h00, the webinar aims to examine the challenges and opportunities associated with merging human and technological capabilities. While technology continues to evolve and drive advancements in collision prevention, the webinar emphasises that human intuition and knowledge are pivotal for achieving optimal system performance.

Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics and Alan Marneweck, Engineer at TerreSauver, will share their insights and experiences, providing a comprehensive understanding of how to strike the right balance between human and technological contributions. Participants will gain valuable knowledge on understanding human behaviour and psychology, harnessing the power of data and artificial intelligence, and other strategies for optimising collision prevention systems.

Key learnings from the webinar include:

• Recognising the importance of human intuition and expertise in optimising collision prevention systems.
• Strategies for integrating human and technological capabilities to enhance collision prevention, leveraging data to improve human decision-making.
• The role of effective communication and collaboration in achieving a harmonious balance between human and technological contributions.
• The significance of ongoing training and education to ensure that humans are equipped to master their crucial role in collision prevention systems amidst rapid technological advancements.
• Exploring the potential benefits of human-tech synergy in various industries and environments, improving safety, efficiency, and overall performance.
• Participants will walk away with actionable insights to understand the untapped potential of human-tech collaboration in ensuring safer roads and workplaces. Whether technology experts or safety professionals, attendees will find the webinar engaging and informative, offering practical tips applicable to their own collision prevention systems.

To register for the webinar and secure your place, visit https://www.miningreview.com/health-and-safety/webinar-human-touch-in-high-tech-mastering-the-crucial-role-of-people-in-collision-prevention-systems/. Join Booyco Electronics and Mining Review Africa to discover how human expertise and technology can synergise to make a significant impact on collision prevention.

Global mining majors are leading from the front in the application of proximity detection systems (PDS) in mine safety strategies, as was clearly demonstrated at the recent Collision Avoidance Forum in New South Wales, Australia.

“Some of the world’s largest mining companies were at the forum to present their approaches to leveraging PDS technology in their quest for zero harm,” says Anton Lourens, CEO of leading PDS specialist Booyco Electronics, who also presented at the event.

Hosted by the Minerals Council of NSW and the New South Wales Resources Regulator, the Collision Avoidance Forum attracted some 300 delegates from around Australia and globally. Lourens points out that this reflected the high level of interest in PDS and its value to the industry, with sizeable delegations from mining companies, OEMs and PDS suppliers alike.

“While Australia has not regulated the use of PDS – as has recently been done in countries like South Africa – there is still an industry-wide commitment to addressing significant risk,” he says. “Risk assessments are well entrenched in the mining sector, and these create the foundation for effectively applying collision avoidance strategies and technologies.”

The message from the event, he noted, was that plenty of progress had been made – both in the development and the on-site application of PDS systems. For those companies still thinking about embracing these systems, there was therefore no need to reinvent the wheel. At the same time, there was growing incentive to apply PDS where a mine had identified significant risk from the movement of mobile mining equipment.

Lourens highlighted in his presentation that collision avoidance solutions do not function in isolation. Successful applications rely on a clearly defined scope of work that integrates a range of factors from risk assessments, traffic management plans together with traffic flow analysis, to the different OEM and technology capabilities, and the stakeholders’ awareness and buy-in.

Practical project execution on mines relies on commitment and availability from both engineering and mining teams, and managers need to understand stakeholder acceptance as well as the overall project costs in relation to capital and ongoing operational expenditure.

“Within the range of technologies available, the user still has to select the solution that best suits their application,” he says. “This is where the years of work done by the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT) on roadmaps and processes is also helping mines to implement collision avoidance strategies more quickly and effectively.”

By approaching the implementation process in a guided and disciplined manner, mines are today able to follow roadmaps that ensure best use of time and resources. He notes that these sequential processes take account of critical areas such as change management, behaviour, operational and technology readiness.

Proximity Detection Systems (PDS) started out as a valuable mechanism to warn operators and pedestrians of imminent danger, but today they play even more powerful health and safety roles.

These include gathering and analysing site-specific data that allows management to plan safe and efficient traffic flows. According to Anton Lourens, CEO of leading PDS developer Booyco Electronics, the rapid development of digital communication and sensor technology is opening many doors to higher safety levels.

“PDS can today locate vehicles and personnel in real time, giving mines the ability to recognise patterns in traffic movement,” says Lourens. “From this starting point, traffic management strategies can be developed to keep people away from trackless mining machinery (TMM).”

Importantly, the data collected can identify ‘hot spots’ where potential collisions could occur. This makes a systemic contribution to the mine’s safety, as management can adapt traffic management plans to  create segregation of people from equipment, and equipment from each other. This feeds constructively into the mine’s ongoing risk assessment responsibilities, and provides strong mitigation methods.

“This is giving PDS a vital role in each mine’s code of practice (COP), making these interventions specific rather than generalised,” he says. “Every mine has its own specific traffic conditions and operational requirements, for instance, and PDS helps provide insight into those conditions so that the COP is kept relevant and effective.”

He points to the Booyco Electronics Asset Management System (BEAMS) software suite as an example. This is essentially a central information hub that gives mines the insight they need into operational interactions.

“BEAMS analyses a huge amount of data from vehicles, uncovering important aspects such as unsafe patterns of behaviour,” says Lourens. “This gives management the basis for responding with strategies that mitigate risk and enhance safety.”

He also highlights the growing use of sensor technology in enhancing the health and safety benefits of PDS. These innovations have, as example, added a close-up and more accurate sensing approach to the traditional long-distance detection technology.

“We have designed our CXS range of PDS solutions so that we can readily augment the system architecture with sensors,” he says. “By combining various sensing technologies, we develop flexible solutions that make for safer working environments – as they are specific to customer and operational requirements.”

Lourens reiterates that the application of PDS technology can only be effective when based on a thorough risk assessment. This, he says, will ensure that the mine’s selection of a solution is relevant to their needs and conditions.

“This means a well-planned process that includes careful change management and real engagement with all involved,” he explains. “By taking the required steps, PDS can play a significant role in enhancing health and safety – while providing long-term benefits in productivity.”

That Proximity Detection System (PDS) technology has over the years ushered in a new era in mine safety management is no overstatement. Given the pace of development in the past two years, Anton Lourens, CEO of Booyco Electronics, says the PDS is advancing its value proposition beyond the avoidance of accidents on mine sites. 

“To provide context, the PDS technology is increasingly part of the development of ‘digital twin’ simulations, where mines are analysing big data to understand their operations better. This has been a big developmental step during the past few years. Owing to the large amount of available operational information it is now possible to see how machines interact and operate, allowing for proper traffic flow analysis and implementation of suitable traffic management plans,” says Lourens. 

Over the years, the PDS, he adds, has proven to be a relevant and important tool in the industry’s quest for Zero Harm. Over and above its primary functions, the technology can now be used as an evaluation tool to identify incident hotspots, review heatmaps, analyse traffic flow and inform traffic management plans.

Looking ahead, Lourens believes that PDS technology will continue to develop, particularly leveraging advancements in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and other technologies. He is also of the view that no single technology will offer a total solution; integration of multiple technologies such as GPS (Global Positioning System), RF (Radio Frequency), cameras and radars, among others, will be key to providing the industry with the best possible tool to realise Zero Harm. 

“By adding different technologies, the value proposition to the customer is expanding. The PDS is therefore transforming from being a legislative and often a ‘grudge’ purchase to a prized, must-have tool that offers immense value to the industry,” concludes Lourens.

Since its inception in 2006, proximity detection system (PDS) and collision prevention system (CPS) specialist Booyco Electronics has leveraged a radical research and development (R&D) regime to inform its product development. This, explains chief sales officer Graeme Jardine, has been key to addressing specific requirements for the coal mining sector. 

“We have over the years made significant investments in R&D, which has truly spurred innovation, invention and progress,” he says. “Informed by changing industry requirements, we have evolved our offering from the first-generation Collision Warning System (CWS) to the new generation Booyco CXS.” 

The technology has advanced from simply being a PDS solution, to incorporating several other functions such as tracking and data management. In addition to the safety capabilities, Booyco PDS and CPS solutions are now able to provide customers with the bigger operational picture, including information such as machine standing time, idling times and cycles times, among others. 

“The latest generation Booyco CXS consolidates the learnings of the past 16 years, leveraging technology to achieve new levels of safety in both underground and surface mining environments. It is a best-of-breed system that provides a comprehensive and integrated response to Level 7, Level 8 and Level 9 requirements, in line with the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT) requirements,” explains Jardine. 

Due to the presence of flammable gases, collieries are susceptible to explosions. One of Booyco Electronics’ competitive edges is that all its PDS and CPS components are intrinsically safe, which makes them ideal for hazardous mining areas such as underground collieries. The common industry alternative to an intrinsically safe solution  is for suppliers to offer  a flameproof enclosure to house the PDS, which makes the equipment extremely expensive, heavy and difficult to maintain. 

“Because our solutions are intrinsically safe, they are designed within specific system specifications  to allow them to be deployed in hazardous areas. Typical benefits of this approach compared with flame-proof enclosures include cost savings in installation and maintenance of the equipment,” says Jardine. 

He also highlights the importance of Booyco Electronics’ proximity to its coal mining customer base, which allows regular and detailed interaction, in line with its partnership approach to PDS installations. The company has a fully-fledged branch in Witbank to support the Mpumalanga coalfields, while the Richards Bay branch looks after the Vryheid/Newcastle coal mines. Each branch has a large aftermarket team of technically skilled and competent field staff, assisting customers to optimise uptime and productivity.

Since its inception in 2006, proximity detection system (PDS) and collision prevention system (CPS) specialist Booyco Electronics has leveraged a radical research and development (R&D) regime to inform its product development. This, explains chief sales officer Graeme Jardine, has been key to addressing specific requirements for the coal mining sector.

“We have over the years made significant investments in R&D, which has truly spurred innovation, invention and progress,” he says. “Informed by changing industry requirements, we have evolved our offering from the first-generation Collision Warning System (CWS) to the new generation Booyco CXS.”

The technology has advanced from simply being a PDS solution, to incorporating several other functions such as tracking and data management. In addition to the safety capabilities, Booyco PDS and CPS solutions are now able to provide customers with the bigger operational picture, including information such as machine standing time, idling times and cycles times, among others.

“The latest generation Booyco CXS consolidates the learnings of the past 16 years, leveraging technology to achieve new levels of safety in both underground and surface mining environments. It is a best-of-breed system that provides a comprehensive and integrated response to Level 7, Level 8 and Level 9 requirements, in line with the Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table (EMESRT) requirements,” explains Jardine.

Due to the presence of flammable gases, collieries are susceptible to explosions. One of Booyco Electronics’ competitive edges is that all its PDS and CPS components are intrinsically safe, which makes them ideal for hazardous mining areas such as underground collieries. The common industry alternative to an intrinsically safe solution  is for suppliers to offer  a flameproof enclosure to house the PDS, which makes the equipment extremely expensive, heavy and difficult to maintain.

“Because our solutions are intrinsically safe, they are designed within specific system specifications  to allow them to be deployed in hazardous areas. Typical benefits of this approach compared with flame-proof enclosures include cost savings in installation and maintenance of the equipment,” says Jardine.

He also highlights the importance of Booyco Electronics’ proximity to its coal mining customer base, which allows regular and detailed interaction, in line with its partnership approach to PDS installations. The company has a fully-fledged branch in Witbank to support the Mpumalanga coalfields, while the Richards Bay branch looks after the Vryheid/Newcastle coal mines. Each branch has a large aftermarket team of technically skilled and competent field staff, assisting customers to optimise uptime and productivity.

Putting safe distance between people and the range of mobile equipment on surface mines – from off-road dump trucks to excavators and loaders – Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) have become integral to mining safety.

Underpinning the success of CAS has been years of intensive research and development, says Booyco Electronics CEO Anton Lourens. This work has actively embraced various new and existing technologies, further raising the reliability and functionality of CAS.

“Pioneering companies like Booyco Electronics – in this game for over 16 years – have taken advantage of developments in satellite positioning systems, for instance,” says Lourens. “This has enabled us to achieve greater performance in collision algorithms.”

“We have become interested in smart vision systems that allow intelligent perception of people, vehicles, objects and other risks,” he says. “Wearable technology also allows us to enhance context and to readily distribute safety information. New technologies have even allowed us to embrace cutting edge fatigue detection solutions.”

He explains that Industry 4.0 has brought levels of digitalisation and automation that could not be envisaged until recently. In response, Booyco Electronics has invested vigorously in software-based solutions, paving the way for increased flexibility to customise solutions for specific needs. 

“This has meant that our equipment can be improved and customised through its software elements rather than its hardware,” he says. “Functionality can therefore be adapted more easily, and can be applied remotely through a wireless connection instead of requiring in-person attention on site.”

Rapid developments in sensor and tracking technology were also delivering exciting opportunities to advance CAS capabilities. Integration is really the key to success in these endeavours, he argues. 

“We have progressed considerably down the path of combining the power of sensors with information technology,” says Lourens. “This allows us to capture extensive data about the respective locations of personnel and machinery through PDS.”

Digitalisation gives Booyco Electronics the ability to upload and analyse this data in real time, so that it can inform on-mine decisions and enhance safety strategies. More than this, CAS can now contribute to emerging automated mine ecosystems. As autonomous mining is gradually rolled out in the sector, CAS can be relied upon to support this process with the necessary safety levels. 

Putting safe distance between people and the range of mobile equipment on surface mines – from off-road dump trucks to excavators and loaders – Collision Avoidance Systems (CAS) have become integral to mining safety.

Underpinning the success of CAS has been years of intensive research and development, says Booyco Electronics CEO Anton Lourens. This work has actively embraced various new and existing technologies, further raising the reliability and functionality of CAS.

“Pioneering companies like Booyco Electronics – in this game for over 16 years – have taken advantage of developments in satellite positioning systems, for instance,” says Lourens. “This has enabled us to achieve greater performance in collision algorithms.”

“We have become interested in smart vision systems that allow intelligent perception of people, vehicles, objects and other risks,” he says. “Wearable technology also allows us to enhance context and to readily distribute safety information. New technologies have even allowed us to embrace cutting edge fatigue detection solutions.”

He explains that Industry 4.0 has brought levels of digitalisation and automation that could not be envisaged until recently. In response, Booyco Electronics has invested vigorously in software-based solutions, paving the way for increased flexibility to customise solutions for specific needs.

“This has meant that our equipment can be improved and customised through its software elements rather than its hardware,” he says. “Functionality can therefore be adapted more easily, and can be applied remotely through a wireless connection instead of requiring in-person attention on site.”

Rapid developments in sensor and tracking technology were also delivering exciting opportunities to advance CAS capabilities. Integration is really the key to success in these endeavours, he argues.

“We have progressed considerably down the path of combining the power of sensors with information technology,” says Lourens. “This allows us to capture extensive data about the respective locations of personnel and machinery through PDS.”

Digitalisation gives Booyco Electronics the ability to upload and analyse this data in real time, so that it can inform on-mine decisions and enhance safety strategies. More than this, CAS can now contribute to emerging automated mine ecosystems. As autonomous mining is gradually rolled out in the sector, CAS can be relied upon to support this process with the necessary safety levels.