Teck Coal has recently upgraded the computer navigation system on its fleet of 30 Caterpillar D-10 and D-11 dozers with Ashtech MB 500 GNSS boards for more efficient performance.
Elkford,
British Colombia, Canada -- Teck Coal, a major Canadian coal producer, has
recently upgraded the computer navigation system on its fleet of 30 Caterpillar
D-10 and D-11 dozers with Ashtech MB 500 GNSS boards for more
efficient performance. The new MB 500 boards improve dozer
efficiency and uptime, at the company’s four mining operations here in the
Elkford valley, by delivering
more
comprehensive satellite coverage, despite the adverse site conditions,
including high walls,
reduced sky and multi-path, typical of open pit coal mines. The new boards also have the virtue of being
small enough to be housed entirely within the on-board Octagon computer thereby
freeing up valuable cab space.
The Ashtech MB 500 boards are configured to acquire and track L1/L2 GPS,
GLONASS and SBAS satellite signals and provide a 20 HZ update rate to the
Gemini GPS Control software on the Octagon Systems RMB-C1 computer running
Carlson Grade Control software. For the
highest operational accuracy at each of the four mining operations, an Ashtech
ProFlex 500 reference station transmits UHF real-time RTK centimeter accurate
correction signals to the on-board MB 500 units. The ProFlex 500 has embedded UHF, GSM/GPRS and
Ethernet connectivity, and like the MB 500 board tracks dual-frequency GPS and
GLONASS signals as well as SBAS ranging signals, all of which are optimally
processed by the patented BLADE technology. Gemini Positioning Systems Ltd. is
the system integrator.
The new boards replaced externally mounted, dual-frequency, single
constellation receivers that at times lost satellite coverage forcing the
dozers to stop and switch to survey mode slowing the entire mining operation.
Multi-constellation positioning, GPS+Glonass+SBAS, definitely grants
more robust and complete coverage in adverse site conditions.
Equipment and
Location:
Ashtech GNSS board – MB500
Ashtech GNSS Base station – ProFlex 500
Caterpillar D10 and D11 Dozers
OctagonSystems RMB-C1 (octagonsystems.com/products/rmb-c1.aspx)
Software: Carlson Grade Control / Gemini’s GPS Control
software
Location – Elkford / Sparwood, BC
Minesites – Teck Coal; Fording River Operations / Line
Creek Operations / Greenhills Operations / Coal Mountain Operations
About Teck
Teck is Canada’s largest diversified
mining, mineral processing and metallurgical company. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada,
it’s a world leader in the production of copper, metallurgical coal and zinc, molybdenum and
specialty metals.
About Gemini
Gemini
Positioning Systems Ltd., based in Calgary,
Alberta, Canada,
provides GPS system integration, design and consulting services specializing in
custom GPS and satellite applications and installations. It is the exclusive Canadian distributor for
the Ashtech Survey, GIS and OEM GPS navigation and positioning products.
About Ashtech
Recognized as an industry innovator, Ashtech has been
developing GNSS technology for more than 25 years. Ashtech is the creator
of BLADE technology, which introduces a unique patented method to the market
using multiple GNSS constellations for high-accuracy positioning. Ashtech
has also introduced the MobileMapper series of products for GIS and mapping, as
well as the ProFlex 500 and ProMark series, including the ProMark
500, ProMark3 RTK and ProMark 3, a well-recognized GNSS Land Survey
product line currently on the market. Ashtech S.A.S. is privately held and
headquartered in Carquefou, France, with offices in Beijing,
China, and Singapore, as well as affiliates in Santa Clara, California
(Ashtech LLC) and Moscow
( Ashtech A/O LLC). For more information on Ashtech, visitwww.ashtech.com.
Canadian Coal Producer Upgrades with Ashtech MB 500 GNSS
March 10, 2010
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