System aids in asset tracking.

A new asset tracking system--developed by a Sudbury company--is becoming increasingly popular in the Canadian mining industry due to its productivity-enhancing qualities, but there are still lingering privacy concerns about its use in some mines, says Varis Mine Technology marketing representative Craig Russell.

"This is something we see as the future in mining. We've never been able to see inside a mine before," says Russell.

The company developed the system, called SmartTags, last year and has successfully marketed it in North America, South America and Australia. The system uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology, which allows a mine supervisor to track the movement of personnel and equipment in underground locations from a computer screen. RFID tags are very small microchips that listen for a radio query and respond by transmitting a unique identification code. They use the power from the initial radio signal to transmit their response back to tag readers strategically located throughout a mine.

So far, most mining companies in Canada have been using the system to keep track of mining equipment and resources, not personnel.

"It's more of an issue in North America, but not in South America," says Russell.

RFID tags have been most successfully applied in other industries, most notably in retail outlets, where the tags are included in products. This helps the company keep track of dwindling stocks of certain items and also helps combat theft. Some customers worry that the tags may be used to track them after they are done shopping.

Russell dismisses concerns about privacy in the mining industry by pointing to the huge advantages of the tags. In the event of an emergency, he says, the SmartTags system can identify the location of miners to expedite rescue operations.

The tags allow supervisors to track personnel, vehicles and equipment at a range of 100 metres (328 ft). The system could also alert supervisors when a worker enters a dangerous area of a mine or if too many diesel exhaust-emitting vehicles are in particular area.

Having the tags, he says, is also very useful in improving productivity. Supervisors would be able to know exactly where equipment and vehicles are located at the beginning of a work shift, thereby eliminating lost time looking for resources and supplies. Company supervisors can also see how productive workers have been by tracking their movements.

Although Varis has been successful in promoting the advantages of using the tracking system, Russell says that interest in asset tracking is related to the degree to which technology is applied in individual mines.

Although the software and tags are not very complicated, says Russell, mines that are already accustomed to computers are more likely to see the value of the system. Varis has discovered this reality through sales visits and trade shows. Russell says he has been having success in promoting SmartTags in Sudbury area mines for just this reason. The level of technology used by Sudbury mining companies, he says, is very impressive. Smaller mining operations that are less technologically advanced are more of a challenge for Varis.

"It's my job to help smaller mines realize that this technology improves their bottom line and increases their level of safety," he adds.

The system allows for real-time tracking and includes security features to ensure that only authorized personnel can use it. The company has simplified the user interface, or the part of the computer system the actual users see, says Russell, so that it is simply a 'point-and-click' operation.

"It's unbelievably easy to use. Anyone who knows Microsoft Word can use this. It doesn't have a lot of hidden commands," Russell says.

Beyond its user-friendly design, Russell also points out that Varis can customize the system to meet a customer's specific needs. Mining companies work with Varis technical staff to develop a system that makes sense for a particular location.

www.varismine.com

BY JOSEPH QUESNEL 

Northern Ontario Business