Researchers Yuanjie Shen and Maksymilian Jasiak from the Berkeley Center for Smart Infrastructure (CSI) and Sociedad Química y Minera (SQM) deployed fiber optic Nerve-Sensors (3DSensor), distributed fiber optic sensors (DFOS), Wisen smart shape, and wireless tilt node sensors to monitor a Caliche ore heap at a SQM mining site near Iquique in Chile. This collaboration enables long-term performance monitoring of leaching operations and advances sustainable iodine and nitrate production.
Caliche Ore Heap
Four parallel sensing systems were deployed at the pre-drilled boreholes on a heap where minerals are produced by leaching. The purpose of installation is to test out the feasibility of deploying an advanced self-sustained real-time monitoring system in a remote area with no phone network and power source. Recorded measurements rely on satellite Wi-Fi connection for data transmission.
Distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) system provides temperature-compensated vertical strain monitoring, enabling accurate and reliable data on structural integrity.
Nerve-Sensors (3D Sensor), a type of DFOS, go beyond simple axial strain by tracking 3D displacement along their entire length. This unique capability allows for the measurement of curvature and perpendicular movement.
Wisen smart shape contains several advanced, high-precision tri-axis tilt sensor units, characterized by its small size and wide range that measures longitudinal settlement; vertical movement; and lateral contour convergence.
Wisen wireless tilt nodes offer high-precision angle measurements relative to gravity and long-lasting battery life up to 15 years. These omni-axis sensors can be installed in any orientation.
Fiber optic 3DSensor (Nerve-Sensors) and wireless sensor network gateway (Wisen) installed in heap leaching facility
Fiber optic 3D Sensor (Nerve-Sensors)
Wireless tilt nodes (Wisen)
Six wireless tilt node sensors installed inside a pre-drilled borehole at different depths to enable real-time tilt angle measurements which are then sent to the wireless gateway at the surface and uploaded to the cloud.
Exciting work ahead in collaboration with Nerve-Sensors and Wisen to leverage DFOS 3D Shape Sensing and wireless sensing for mine facility monitoring!