Decline Traffic Information

in
Underground Mining

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 BECTERDTIS Introduction

The DTIS (Decline Traffic Information System) initial design objective was to improve the
safety of underground vehicular operations, especially when multiple vehicles were utilizing the
same roadways. The DTIS system is based on a high reliability software implemented
zonedirection awareness engine, together with a selection of underground hardware such as
CADUs (CATS Active Display Units), Active Tag Readers & long range Active Tags mounted on
vehicles.

The system informs operators of the locations of other vehicles, thereby empowering the
vehicular operators to make informed decisions regarding their underground movements. The
DTIS is primarily a safety system that provides the vehicle operator with location and direction
details of other vehicles.

The DTIS allows a centralized software system to control traffic light indicators and display
driver/operator relevant information on 17 LCD displays in the underground environment. The
system can furthermore detect one of two possible system related defects (Namely: Passbacks
and Violations), by means of its automatic Built In Test. The reliability & maintainability of the
overall system is thereby significantly improved.

All devices are configured and controlled by the central software system called CATS and the
real time and historical data is stored in an SQL compliant database. Client PCs connect to the
central software system via standard Ethernet connectivity.

The direction engine only needs movement between two zones to pin a direction to a vehicle
and provide useful information to the underground operators.

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 BECTERDTIS System Principle

FUNCTIONAL FEATURES

Designed for Vehicles and Assets

Vehicle Tag Battery Life of up to 5 years

Omni-directional radiation pattern

Tag Readers are connected via an RS485

bus, and then sectorised in to levels linked by
a redundant fibre backbone

Tag Readers form zones and allow accurate

positioning throughout the mine

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System Illustration

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Centralised Asset Tracking Software

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Map Viewer

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Tag Reader Received Signal Strenght Histogram

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Vehicle Movement Detail

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