Coal Age

JUN 2016

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24 www.coalage.com June 2016 mapping & surveying Flying High The sky's the limit as North Dakota mine takes an innovative approach to surveying and monitoring by donna schmidt, field editor North American Coal's Falkirk surface complex, located about 50 miles north of Bismarck, North Dakota, recently earned itself a rather trailblazing distinction: it became the first surface coal mine in the United States to receive an exemption from federal authorities to operate a sur- vey drone. The operation, which had been seek- ing new technology to complete its sur- veying and monitoring in a safer and more efficient manner, first began its research into the potential for drone use in mid- 2012, shortly after national airspace regu- lations were enacted for drone use, and the fixed-wing Trimble UX5 took off on its first flight in October 2015. As of March 2016, 65 flights had been completed. The project from idea to takeoff was headed up by Falkirk Mining's planning group engineering manager, Steve Burke, Greg Obrigewitch, professional land survey- or, and partner Adam Walsvik, a Falkirk mine land surveyor, who went through the needed steps to become a certified pilot. Burke and Obrigewitch recently outlined their process from 2012 through today, why they selected the Trimble UX5 model and where their work is heading as they push to save Falkirk even more money and time while collecting the most accurate information possible. Why a Drone? North American Coal's and Falkirk's staffs have a mutual mission to find ways to use new technology for various operational functions that can help crews work safer and more efficiently while also provid- ing cost savings for the mine. The idea to implement a drone was an ideal fit with those criteria. "I came across an article in a survey- ing magazine in which aerial topography work was being accomplished with a small hot air balloon and attached camera," Obrigewitch said. "The hot air balloon was tethered behind a pickup and would drive slowly while aerial images were taken. This article sparked my interest on aerial pho- tography without the aid of an actual air- plane and/or contracted aerial services." Primarily due to the leniency of regula- tions in other countries versus the United States, he said, commercial drone technolo- gy for topography was initially implemented internationally; government drone opera- tions with approved Federal Aviation Ad- ministration (FAA) Certificates of Waiver was allowed in the U.S. national airspace before commercial drone use was allowed. It was a landmark set of outlines, the FAA Modern- ization and Reform Act of 2012, which pro- vided the framework that would permit in- tegration of commercial drone use with the national airspace system. Both noted that the thought process behind the idea to integrate a drone wasn't purely financial. Safety of all of its workers was paramount, with less wear and tear on both people and equipment. "The Falkirk mine also considered the possibilities of increased speed and effi- ciencies that could reduce project cost. The UAS accomplishes the safety goal by limiting the time the surveyors have to spend in the field around the challenging mining landscapes and large equipment," adding that the drone's aerial capabilities reduces that physical wear. "The reason for pursuing this was our drive for continuous improvement or sim- ply to do things better," Burke added. "The justification was based on tangible cost sav- ings, but the real impetus was more around intangibles, like better information for better decisions gathered in a safe and timely man- ner. This is one more tool in the tool kit, and a very powerful one at that." Selecting the Trimble UX5 Many unfamiliar with drone technology may think they're all the same, that a casual drone for backyard flying is just the same as a profes- sional unit with extended options. Not true. In the commercial space alone, there are plenty of options with countless capabilities, and many models — such as those in the class of the drone selected by Falkirk — can mean an investment of tens of thousands of dollars. The mine was looking at a specific set of factors in its search for the right drone: flight time, accuracy, support, training, cost and, of course, application. The ideal addition would perform full automated aerial scanning of the operation's ponds and other areas via in- structions from a ground control station, with the result being raw images and data files the complex could use quickly and easily. "The Falkirk mine evaluated the fixed wing drone, as these typically fly faster and have a longer battery life than a rotor blade UAS," Obrigewitch said, noting that the The Trimble UX5 drone ready for launch at North American Coal's Falkirk mine in North Dakota. The unit has already successfully completed more than 65 successful flights for the company.

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