Abstract

Using GIS tools to build new main mine access
Track: Mining and Geosciences
Authors: Arturo Morales, Ignacio Yañez

The Codelco-Chile, El Teniente copper underground Mine is located in central Chile.
The analysis highlights the usefulness of GIS technologies, ArcGis 10 platform, to analyze designs offered to contractors to build new access roads and facilities for heavy equipments in order to build the new main access of 18 km into the mine.

The problem detected is that preliminary maps used to design these works were inaccurate. Since the topography is mainly characterized by undulating hills, creeks, steep slopes and native vegetation we detected that there would be critical problems for contractors to decide for themselves the better construction option, considering environmental and safety restrictions.

The solution adopted was to use aerophotogrametrical high-resolution Lidar technology to better represent the landscape involved and to analyze the access roads and facilities to be emplaced resulting in highlighting 40 territorial "warnings" to improve the layout and for better use of existing gravel paths.