MINETRACER, an underground mine communication,tagging and tracking system

For 2-way communication, the MineTracer system uses text messaging rather than voice. This is very important as it allows every miner to communicate to the surface at the same time during an emergency event. Text messaging is the best two-way communication method when dangerous gas is present and an SCSR is donned. Each miner’s location and message is time-stamped and recorded in the mine office. The Text Communicator (TC) has a 4-line LCD backlit display and 250 message menu – plenty of capacity for both safety and operations messages. Custom messages are programmable for each mine. The Text Communicator is also the tracking device. Miners are alerted to new incoming messages via the ringer and a bright flashing LED on the unit.

minetracer texting device

What are people saying about MineTracer?

Les Fox (Superintendant of Consol's Big Branch Mine) –
I have tried other systems like the PED and some of the RFID zonal systems. The other systems don’t even compare to this MineTracer system. This system helps me manage my mine, and it keeps my people safe. It is a really good system.

Remona Marcum (Mine Dispatch Office Administrator) -
Mine Tracer is an amazing system. It enables continuous tracking of the miners while under ground. I have been monitoring this system since installation in the Consol's Big Branch Mine in June, 2007. It is like having hundreds of extra eyes underground to help me know where my miners are at. Congratulations to Venture Design and the MineTracer Team on this great success in improving mine sfety!

Robert Smith (Mine Foreman) -
With MineTracer we are able to have high confidence that our people are safe, but we also get great benefit out of knowing where our shared equipment is at all times (like rovers and mantrips). This has allowed us to be much more productive in our day-to-day operation of the mine.

Kenny Morgan (Mine Maintenance Manager) –
The MineTracer System works well and with continuous tracking we know the location of everyone underground at all times. We have asked Venture to install it throughout the rest of our mine and into our new workings. Our neighbor mine has bought it too and I recommend it to other mines.

Whittfield Collins (SWVR Jacob Mine Safety Manager) –
I’ll tell you, you get underground and you’re there and you’re by yourself and your light goes out and you’re in total darkness, its good to have something on you like this (MineTracer) and have people know where you are and whether you need help…. I’ve had roof falls and rock falls, and equipment up against me ready to cut me and stuff like that, and I’ve been in old works and my light would go out, and I’d be in total darkness, and it’s a fear that nobody can ever appreciate. The MineTracer system would have saved my life last year when I was covered up (by roof fall); I do the fire-bossing here and I was lucky to have another man with me (who got me to safety); otherwise I would have been alone there worrying about dying.

Dee Sidebottom (Chief Magistrate, State of WV, at demo visit to Big Branch mine with WV Senator Truman Chafin) –
My dad worked in the mines, and every night we just worried ourselves to death ‘cause you didn’t know whether he was gonna come back out or not, so if we had had this in place (MineTracer System) it would have been amazing because you know where they are at all times and it is continuous tracking; ….this is very personal to me…

Roger Ball (SWVR Big Branch Mine Safety Manager) –
I teach miners about safety and this MineTracer system will definitely help save lives in the future.

What can MineTracer do for You?