Real-Time Risk Assessment and Ground Support Optimisation in Underground Mines

Underground mines rely on point stress measurements, which are limited both in time and in space.Developing a stress monitoring system that can provide real-time information about the surrounding rockmass stresses is seen as highly prospective. Mines could quantify the level of rock mechanical hazards and track stability of the excavations. A method for real-time stress change estimation was developed at Aalto University. The method uses strain measurements, which are obtained using extensometers and inverse calculation of stress change using superposition of unit stress responses. It was tested in Boliden’s Kylylahti mine. Aalto University developed guidelines for risk assessment in underground mines that can utilize real-time rock stress input in order to quantify the level of geotechnical hazards. The long-term goal is to develop a concept for real-time monitoring and risk assessment in underground mines. The objective of this paper is to summarize the preceding research and to investigate how the real-time in situ stress data can be used for real-time risk assessment and ground support optimisation in underground mines. The key concepts are introduced and the required changed to the process with real-time data are described. An example from Kylylahti mine is presented as an example use case. The current state, required changes, advantages and difficulties with the current approach are discussed. Finally, based on the observations, suggestions for future research are given.