Australian technology company GeoMoby – shaping the future of location intelligence – works alongside US-based Cisco Systems Underground Mining Solutions to extract telemetry to be visualised by GeoMoby. The complementary technology of both companies will improve safety and operations in underground mining, as the mines of the future become smarter.
In Perth, Chris Baudia – founder and CEO of GeoMoby – said: “We are delighted to form a collaboration 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.
One comment was that there is no one better than GeoMoby, right now, in underground communication technology in the world. This is a very important recommendation for our product.
“The world is changing – environmental and heritage concerns are driving more and more mines underground. There is a demand to make those mines operate more productively and keep workers safer. Cisco, which is the premium technology provider for mines in the world, has recognised the innovative technology approach of GeoMoby communications technology can be of real and immediate benefit in underground mining safety.
“GeoMoby and our technology, which is complementary to Cisco’s, is assisting Cisco fulfill their clients’ objectives.”
Cisco reported: “Enabling autonomous operations and understanding the location of people and assets, in real time, are necessary for realizing fully operational smart mines. Smart mines require the ability to make good decisions based on large volumes of data, specifically within tunnels.
“A common goal of both GeoMoby and Cisco is to accelerate the digitalization of the mining industry. GeoMoby uses, extends and enhances Cisco technology within mining operations. The result is a readily implementable mining platform that enables continual optimization of operations and safety in underground mining.”
In a recent blog on underground mining, Cisco said the opportunity with GeoMoby could provide:
- Reduction or elimination of gaps in network connectivity and communication.
- All-in-one 3D map and real-time location, including existing Cisco tags and infrastructure.
- Convergence between OT/IT: traffic management, ventilation automation, IoT sensors, data collection.
- New solution blueprint extends value for customers using Cisco solutions and specialist ecosystem supporters such as GeoMoby.
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, the GeoMoby team 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 a film showing GeoMoby’s flagship technology used in underground mines: https://geomoby.com/case-study/underground-asset-management/
Here is a link to Cisco Systems blog on the collaboration with GeoMoby: https://blogs.cisco.com/internet-of-things/mining-innovation-underground-mining-visibility-locating-assets-and-protecting-people
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 values highly 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.
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.”
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.
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.
About Chris Baudia, CEO and Founder
Chris is an entrepreneur, inventor and driving force behind GeoMoby. In the past, he managed multi-million dollar projects for global consulting companies. He holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science and Telecommunications and is a certified Scrum Master since 2009. He has been a QuantumTX National Finalist (WA winner 2022), Hot 30 Core Innovation award winner (2022), a finalist in the RISE Business Award for Startup of the Year (2020), a recipient of the Amcom Upstart Investment Program in 2015 and WA Innovator of Year finalist in 2013. He lives in Perth, Western Australia and is originally from France.
About Mathieu Paul, Director
Mathieu has been a director of GeoMoby for the past six years and has been instrumental in recent capital raising of $3m. He is now focused on business development and sales at GeoMoby. Mathieu has a Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship, Finance, Project Management and Business Strategy from NEOMA Business School in France and received a Bachelor of Business Administration at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. Prior to GeoMoby, Mathieu has worked in audit/finance analysis at KPMG and Grant Thornton. He has also been employed by Siemens France China and the South African Embassy in Paris. He has experience in management consulting, business valuations and sales and acquisitions. Mathieu lives in Perth, Western Australia and is also the principal of Insight Advisory Group.
