Nexsys™: A Realtime Risk Management System for Mine Safety

Effective risk management is essential for mine safety but is difficult to achieve on an ad-hoc basis. Newly developed by CSIRO, the Nexsys™ 1 Real-Time Risk Management decision support system provides continuous monitoring, evaluation and reporting of mining conditions, supports operators in the decision making process and allows rapid communication with mine site personnel. Nexsys™ integrates abundant mine data from various proprietary systems and independent sensors to support safety-critical hazard analysis in real-time. A key feature of Nexsys™ is a novel risk profiling matrix, dynamically populated by automated rules based on the mine's Trigger Action Response Plans. The Nexsys™ architecture comprises a server, a client (that can be located worldwide), and a web-based read-only client that can be accessed from any web-enabled device such as a PDA. The interface provides safety-related warnings and multi-dimensional displays of sensors, equipment and personnel location embedded within the mine plan. The paper highlights the potential for Nexsys™ to significantly enhance safety performance and hazard management in mining. It also discusses key learnings gained through successful pilot deployments at longwall operations at Beltana and Grasstree (Australia) and the Kushiro coal mine (Japan).