‘GeoMoby’s technology provides unparalleled insights into TKMs’
Australian technology company GeoMoby – shaping our future with location intelligence – says productivity is certain to improve using its technology in remote surface and underground mines, as well as mineral processing facilities.
Underground Mining
In Perth, GeoMoby director Mathieu Paul, said: “Tonnes per Kilometre (TKMs) is a critical metric in evaluating the efficiency of underground mining operations and GeoMoby’s technology provides unparalleled insights into TKMs. This empowers mining companies to optimise haulage routes, reduce downtime, and enhance overall productivity.
“Furthermore, managing contractors efficiently is pivotal in underground mining operations. GeoMoby’s platform facilitates seamless contractor’s management, offering real-time visibility into their activities, resource allocation, and performance, resulting in streamlined operations and improved productivity.
“Return on investment (ROI) is usually a few months, as we collect and display data on equipment, people and machines that is extremely easy to understand. With this information, operations can be streamlined to run more efficiently. The data on the movement of machines and equipment is collected in real time and supplied in real time to our customers. Our trials have now been successfully completed in the Goldfields, in Western Australia, and we know GeoMoby will make your surface or underground mine, or mineral processing facility, more productive.”
Surface Mining
GeoMoby’s technology delivers tangible benefits, contributing to increased productivity and operational excellence in surface mines.
“Optimising resource allocation is a key factor in surface mining productivity,” says Paul.
“Our solutions provide accurate and real-time data on resource utilisation, enabling mining companies to make informed decisions, reduce waste, and enhance overall efficiency. GeoMoby’s commitment to sustainability aligns with the evolving needs of the mining industry. By providing tools to monitor and minimise environmental impact, our technology ensures that increased productivity goes hand in hand with responsible mining practices.
GeoMoby: A Catalyst for Transformation
As mining operations worldwide face increasing challenges, GeoMoby’s location intelligence technology emerges as a catalyst for positive transformation. The integration of innovative solutions not only enhances productivity but also sets new benchmarks for safety, efficiency, and sustainability in the mining industry.
GeoMoby founder and CEO Chris Baudia said: “”GeoMoby is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in mining productivity. Our technology empowers mining companies to navigate the complexities of underground operations with unprecedented precision, ensuring a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future for the industry. GeoMoby will not only make your mine safer but our results demonstrate that productivity improves, virtually, immediately. Many Australian miners, including critical mineral operations in the Pilbara of Western Australia, are moving into the processing of critical minerals for the first time. Others are expanding operations and our message to miners’ upscaling is: come and see us. We know GeoMoby will save you an enormous amount of money over the long term. Location intelligence technology is the way of the future, particularly when you are operating large, remote sites and workforces.”
For more information please contact:
Cate Rocchi, Perth Media cate@perthmedia.com.au 0428431699
About GeoMoby
Perth-based GeoMoby provides an all-in-one, visibility platform allowing real-time monitoring of assets and people. GeoMoby’s goal is to change the way businesses make decisions and reach people, to help businesses control their data and their future. It was established in 2013, in Perth, by founder and CEO Chris Baudia. GeoMoby’s leadership team is also consists of Mathieu Paul who was appointed as a director and head of strategy in 2016. Mathieu oversees sales and marketing. In September 2021, Andrew Rouse – an experienced mining professional with a passion for enhancing the METS (mining equipment technology services) sector, also joined GeoMoby as a director. Andrew helps develop strategic technology, software, and B2B partnerships in conjunction with Chris and Mathieu. GeoMoby employs 15 staff. Most are software specialists and based in Perth, but some are located remotely. GeoMoby highly values its hard-working team, a priceless asset for any business. Its years of investment in R&D before going to market have ensured a quality, tested and proven, cost-effective, outcome-based offering that can now be delivered to market. In late 2022, GeoMoby undertook a successful capital raising of $3m, the second funding round undertaken by GeoMoby. In 2021, the company raised $1.25m.
GeoMoby: Working Together with Cisco Systems
In 2023, GeoMoby announced an official collaboration to work together with US-based Cisco Systems regarding technology for underground mining solutions. The complementary technology of both companies will improve safety and operations in underground mining, as the mines of the future become smarter. Chris Baudia – founder and CEO of GeoMoby – said: “We are delighted to collaborate with leading global technology company Cisco. This is a significant development for our company and it will accelerate our growth in Australia and overseas. We look forward to working closely together as we continue to improve safety in underground mining and ultimately accelerate the digitalization and automation of the industry.” GeoMoby director Mathieu Paul said: “GeoMoby’s innovative technology has been rigorously tested by Cisco and has been proven to vastly improve underground mining visibility; the ability to locate assets and people in real-time; and protect people. With the support of Cisco, GeoMoby is looking forward to rolling out our technology to many of the world’s largest underground mines over the coming years.”
Here is a link to Cisco Systems blog on the new agreement with GeoMoby: https://blogs.cisco.com/internet-of-things/mining-innovation-underground-mining-visibility-locating-assets-and-protecting-people
Here is a link to a film showing GeoMoby’s flagship technology used in underground mines: https://geomoby.com/case-study/underground-asset-management/
Underground Mine Collapse Inspires Technology
Chris Baudia was inspired to create GeoMoby underground technology – on a visit to Australia from France more than a decade ago – after hearing about an underground mine collapse. Lives were lost and rescue efforts were negatively impacted by not knowing, in any accurate way, where those trapped were located. He knew that he could develop a technology to avoid, or greatly improve, positive outcomes in such incidents in the future, and so, the idea of GeoMoby was born.
It is imperative that every team member returns safely to their family at the end of their shift, but what you can’t measure, you can’t manage, says founder Chris Baudia. This is particularly important in challenging environments such as mining (where staff, vehicles and machines are located underground) and visibility is limited. Compound these challenges, with a work environment increasingly impacted by health issues, and it is clear businesses must work smarter to ensure the safety of their teams. With our technology, staff health metrics can be monitored in real- time from the moment they arrive on site, detecting emergency situations the moment they arise, and prompting immediate action. Location-based safety analytics are crucial to implementing a safe system while ensuring little impact on production.
Technology
Underground mines: GeoMoby technology is based on Bluetooth and a proprietary mesh network. Nodes are bright green and the size of a lunchbox. Many are fixed throughout mines. GeoMoby has a patent for its underground location technology. For underground installation, onsite electricians are not required. Mining operations do not need to be shutdown – the technology is fully wireless and cable free. There are two ways of putting nodes on rock walls: nodes can be strapped onto existing underground mesh which is commonly onsite or they can be bolted onto walls. Underground installation generally takes less than an hour of training. GeoMoby technicians easily attach nodes or ‘green lunchboxes’ underground at strategic intervals, by hooking them to mesh, often already on walls. It is very simple and GeoMoby has experience installing kilometres of coverage in just a few hours. A small team will go to site and oversee the initial installation. Maximum space between the nodes is about 400m underground and 600m in open pits. The entire deployment process is generally around two days.
“Many underground mines – in Western Australia and the world – still use employee monitoring systems that revolve around whiteboards, spreadsheets and tag boards,” said Chris Baudia, founder of GeoMoby. “Mistakes concerning equipment and people can easily be made, especially at the change of shift crews or during an emergency. There are no excuses in 2023 – our technology can monitor workers at all times, making sure everyone returns home safely, every single day. It is a valuable, modern tool in the kitbag of any mine manager ensuring the health and safety of large teams, working underground. Companies always need to know where their people are underground otherwise – in an emergency – response times can lag. Too often, in underground mining, there can be an inability to quickly and accurately locate personnel involved in critical incidents so the relevant emergency response can be employed in a timely manner.”
Implementation at the 2023 Underground Mine and Emergency Response Competition (UMERC) in Kalgoorlie for the first time this year
At one of the most important emergency response competitions in the world – held on November 4 and 5 at FMR Investment’s Gordon Sirdar underground operation, 55km north-east of Kalgoorlie – GeoMoby’s trackers and health sensors meant team members could be monitored at all times.
The Goldfields Mine Emergency Rescue Competition began in WA’s Goldfields in 1903, with regular competitions taking place from 1911. Now the Chamber of Mines and Energy and the Mine Rescue Competition Committee host two mine competitions each year, the Surface Mine Emergency Competition (SMERC) in April/May and the Underground Rescue Competition (UMERC) in November. Teams compete in multiple events including research and rescue and breathing apparatus skills at UMERC.
This was the first time GeoMoby has participated in the competition. GeoMoby installed our green ‘lunchbox’ nodes throughout the mine area, in less than a day, over six levels. One level was done in one hour during te competition. Participants carried our tags. At the start of the competition, some of the participants had not heard of GeoMoby, and our Bluetooth connectivity network, and many were sceptical, but all involved were soon constantly watching our real-time screen with ‘live’ action. With GeoMoby, you are able to accurately see every person and vehicle – across an underground mine – in an instant. It’s not theory, it’s reality.
GeoMoby’s Underground Solution is a key offering in the GeoMoby product line-up which includes three main geolocation solutions for underground mining, surface mining and cultural heritage protection. After years in development and testing, it is fantastic to see our technology in action, and the hugely positive response to that technology by the UMERC participants.
Surface mines: GeoMoby technology is a ‘fusion’ of various technologies including small batteries, smart phones, GPS, BLE tags and geofences. GeoMoby has a geofencing patent for this.
GeoMoby Technology in a Nutshell:
- GeoMoby technology can solve a range of operational inefficiencies on mine sites that can occur due to: lack of accurate and timely data; stakeholder engagement issues; and ESG compliance limitations, specifically relating to the protection of cultural heritage.
- GeoMoby has unprecedented capabilities to turn data into real-time value – providing indoor, and outdoor geofencing with higher accuracy than industry standards – along with a negligible battery consumption, a solution it has patented.
- GeoMoby uses location intelligence, geolocation, contextual data, geofencing, location analytics and a network carrier-agnostic. This solves many problems by providing a hyper accurate Live Tracking Platform (LTP) and a Real Time Location System (RTLS) for underground and surface operations.
- GeoMoby’s feature-rich technology also enables users to trigger alerts and actions based on predefined sets of conditions including dwell-time, body temperature, weather, real-time traffic, user profile, and more. Complex geofences (virtual geographic boundaries) can be configured to trigger customised actions when crossed.
- The technology offers a cloud-based SAAS platform. GeoMoby acts as the bridge that generates powerful data and converts it into meaningful information from which critical business decisions can be made to achieve health, security, efficiency, and productivity aims.
GeoMoby’s Protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Environmental Sites with Protect Solution - GeoMoby’s technology uses location services including GPS, fusion sensors and our own patented live tracking algorithms in order to geofence sites and trigger an alert if users enter or come within close proximity of a heritage site, even in remote areas with no connectivity. Receivers can be carried on-person, in vehicles, machinery or equipment, with the app compatible to most modern devices including smart phones and tablets. The technology allows those operating on site to create or upload geofences on a map from any GIS systems, then define different alerts and triggers, while ensuring minimum drain on the device battery. Information is then uploaded to a cloud-based platform with replay features and reporting capabilities for compliance purposes.
- Please see an explanatory video about GeoMoby’s Protect: https://youtu.be/b7XfQVQMxMU
TopDrill Deal
Earlier in 2023, GeoMoby was contracted by Kalgoorlie-based Topdrill’s wholly-owned subsidiary JBC Contracting. The large-scale drilling company to roll out GeoMoby’s Protect technology to 30 drilling rigs working in its Australian operations.
Western Australian Government’s Work Health and Safety Act
“Western Australia introduced new tougher laws on work, health and safety (WHS) in March, 2022 and now, in 2023, there are no excuses,” said Chris Baudia of GeoMoby. It is particularly important for WA underground mines to embrace world-leading technology. The State Government’s Work Health and Safety Act 2020 (WHS Act) replaces previous legislation circa 1984, effectively aligning all workplaces under a single act to improve protections for WA workers. This is the most significant upgrade to WHS legislation in 30 years. The new WHS Act introduces the offence of ‘industrial manslaughter’ – the offence carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment and $5m fine for an individual, and a maximum fine of $10m for a corporation or employer. Senior decision-makers must exercise due diligence to ensure compliance, with responsibility firmly sitting with management when it comes to workplace safety.
