Geological mapping using 3D data acquired with a mobile scanning system designed for underground mining

Peck Tech Consulting Ltd.的uGPS Rapid Mapper是一种新系统，由安装在采矿车前部或后部的激光扫描仪组成，可采集地下矿山的3D图像。随着车辆在地下环境中的行驶，一张详细的矿井地图及其各种隧道和坡道逐渐构建起来。客户使用该地图进行矿山设计（例如，规划通风系统）、运行监控和生产规划。该公司希望为uGPS Rapid Mapper获取的图像增加价值。在本研究计画中，影像将被处理以揭示地质资讯。将开发软件来计算隧道壁中裂缝的方向。此信息对于规划隧道支持至关重要。该软件还将能够计算岩石表面的粗糙度。粗糙度的变化可能有助于区分不同的岩石类型，并有助于绘制矿山的基本地质图。最后，由于uGPS快速测绘仪测量隧道墙壁反射的激光束的亮度，该软件将识别出反射率较高的区域。这些区域可能对应于具有经济价值的金属矿物较为集中的地区。 该项目包括在地下矿井中进行实地工作，以测试激光扫描仪应如何安装在采矿车辆上，以及车辆应以何种速度行驶，以获得自动地质测绘的最佳质量图像。主要的挑战是以足够高的分辨率获取图像，以捕捉精细的结构细节和小的明亮区域，即使在灰尘的存在下。该项目的主要交付成果将是建议在下一代产品中为这一应用升级目前的uGPS快速绘图系统。

The uGPS Rapid Mapper from Peck Tech Consulting Ltd. is a new system composed of a laser scanner mounted at the front or on the back of a mining vehicle, which acquires 3D images in underground mines. A detailed map of the mine, with its various tunnels and ramps, is gradually constructed as the vehicle travels through the underground environment. Clients use this map for mine design (to plan ventilation systems, for example), operation monitoring, and production planning. The company wants to add value to the images acquired by the uGPS Rapid Mapper. In this research project, the images will be by processed to reveal geological information. Software will be developed to calculate the orientation of fractures in the tunnel walls. This information is critical to plan support for tunnels. The software will also be capable of calculating the roughness of rock faces. Variations in roughness might help to distinguish between different rock types and to build a basic geological map of the mine. Finally, since the uGPS Rapid Mapper measures the brightness of the laser beam reflected off the tunnel walls, the software will identify zones of higher reflectivity. These zones might correspond to areas where there is a higher concentration of metallic minerals of economic interest. The project includes field work in an underground mine to test how the laser scanner should be mounted on the mining vehicle and at what speed the vehicle should be driven to get the best quality images for automatic geological mapping. The main challenge will to acquire images at a resolution high enough to capture fine structural details and small bright areas, even in the presence of dust. The main deliverable of the project will be recommendations to upgrade the current uGPS Rapid Mapper system for this application in a later generation of the product.