Mine shafts are critical vertical lifelines of underground mining operations. Their structural integrity directly impacts safety, regulatory compliance, hoisting availability, and long-term operational continuity. Sight Power’s Mine Shaft Inspection solution based on Mine Shaft Scanning System (MS3) is an integrated hardware-software system designed to replace traditional manual inspections with objective, repeatable, and engineering-grade digital assessment.
Built around the MS³ autonomous shaft scanning system and integrated into the Mine Advisor™ digital platform, the solution enables continuous condition monitoring and lifecycle management of vertical shafts with minimal or no impact on hoisting operations.
Engineering Intent and Design Principles
The Mine Shaft Inspection solution has been engineered to meet the practical realities of deep underground mining while satisfying regulatory and structural integrity requirements. Core design principles include removing personnel from hazardous environments, minimizing production interruptions, achieving survey-grade accuracy, and delivering decision-ready results rapidly and consistently.
Major Technical Requirements
The system is designed to support automated and repeatable inspection of all critical shaft infrastructure elements, substituting traditional manual inspections while improving accuracy and completeness.
Guide gauge, alignment, twist, and global deviation measurement.
Buntons and steelwork deformation and straightness analysis.
Brattice wall damage and deformation monitoring.
Shaft lining deformation, circularity, spalling, and wet spot detection.
Pipes, cables, and services positioning and condition monitoring.
Tracking of structural condition changes over time.
Maintenance of a continuously updated digital shaft logbook.
The system is designed to meet or exceed typical regulatory and engineering accuracy expectations for vertical shaft inspections. Typical measurement capabilities include:
| Inspection Parameter | Typical Capability |
|---|---|
| Guide gauge | ±1 mm |
| Guide alignment (local & global) | ±1–2 mm |
| Guide twist | ±2 mm |
| Bunton deformation | ±1–2 mm |
| Shaft lining deformation / circularity | ±2–3 mm |
| Concrete spalling detection | ≥ 5 mm depth |
| Steelwork deformation | ±1–2 mm |
| Pipes and services positioning | ±3 mm |
Detailed operational performance characteristics for the MS3 system are being finalized and will be published here.
Integration with Mine Advisor™ and the Digital Mine™
All inspection data, models, and analytical results are managed within the Mine Advisor™ platform. Shaft inspection data is contextualized alongside design records, geological information, maintenance history, and operational parameters, forming a continuously updated digital twin of the shaft.
Revenue Calculator
Use this calculator to estimate the potential increase in annual revenue achieved through mineshaft monitoring technology. Simply enter your operational parameters for different commodities — including hoisting time, capacity, production rates, and market prices — to see how improved efficiency can translate into measurable financial gains.
Summary
Sight Power’s Mine Shaft Inspection solution transforms shaft inspections from hazardous, subjective, and disruptive activities into a continuous digital intelligence capability. By combining autonomous data acquisition, engineering-grade accuracy, and platform-level integration, it enables safer operations, improved compliance, and proactive long-term shaft integrity management.
