An Integrated Data Approach to Tailings Dam Risk Management

Types of Monitoring

Two methodologies are typically employed in monitoring tailings dams/levees – internal monitoring of deformations, loads and pore pressures; and external monitoring for deformation and leakage. Both methodologies should be employed. External monitoring is important but monitoring internal stability of the structures always provides leading indicators of failure, i.e. it provides more time for mitigation.

At numerous mines around the world, Canary Systems has successfully deployed our integration platform for aggregation, visualization and analytics of all these technologies and more. As a single point of interaction, MLWeb® allows quick access to the entire data catalogue providing powerful alarming, data correlation and reporting tools, and dramatically reducing the time from data acquisition to actionable insights.

Integration With MLWeb®

With the ability to ingest data from a multitude of sources—including remote sensing devices, instrumentation and dataloggers from most vendors—MLWeb is a comprehensive data integration platform. Its programmable interface allows for scheduling data collections from a multitude of devices, while its configurable database, file, scripting, and API import options allow users to bridge data silos. A fully integrated GIS engine provides for georeferencing of data, events, and locations with ease.

Data Types for Tailings Dam Monitoring

Link to: MLDAQ

Internal Deformation
In-Place Inclinometers

IPI’s allow measure of internal structural deformation and identification of internal failure zones

Link to: MLSAA

Shape Accelerometer Arrays

SAA’s allow measure of internal structural deformation, identification of internal failure zones, and provide more discrete data compared to IPIs

Link to: MLRemote

Internal Pore Pressure
Piezometers

Piezometers allow measure of internal hydraulic pressures and capture depressurization efforts. But it’s difficult to profile the entire hydraulic column effectively, and they do not provide information about deformation.

Settlement Sensors

Provide direct measurement of internal vertical stability at high resolution (1mm). As a downside, this instrumentation type has to be generally installed during construction.

Pressure Cells

Allows characterization of dynamic loading, but generally must be installed during construction.

Ground-Based Radar

Ground-based Radar allows for dynamic slope stability monitoring, with the highest spatial resolution and sub-millimeter accuracy, this is an excellent risk management tool.

External Seepage: Weirs

Weirs are effective in characterizing changes in embankment performance over time and provide for a verification of the design model.

Follow a manual added link

External Deformation
InSAR

Satellite based Radar provides large coverage areas, is unaffected by weather, and has very low movement detection thresholds. However, it only measures external deformation and provides limited solution periods.

Link to: MLGPS

GPS

GPS allows rapid monitoring deployment and true 3D point data and displacement providing failure models.

Link to: MLDAQ-RW-65S

Robotic Total Stations

One Total Station can monitor a large line-of-sight area (3000m) and provide true X/Y/Z data. But the system is susceptible to atmospheric conditions and critical locations may not always be available within a given LOS.

Link to: Private: MultiLogger Datalogger Client

Wire Extensometers

Slideminders provide very accurate measurement of slope displacement at near real time. The system is very easy to deploy but susceptible to environmental interference (animals, wind).

Next Steps

Visit the page linked below for more information about MLWeb and the platform’s software capabilities.

Learn More

Canary Systems team of engineers has experience with all of the above mentioned monitoring technologies, and can provide consultation, installation, design, and data collection solutions for new and existing implementations. Call us today for a Pilot Project or simply to learn more.

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