August 4, 2008
Wholesale Mine Supply Offers New Underground Wireless Tracking System
Wholesale Mine Supply (WMS), Irwin, PA, the largest supplier of two-way underground communications systems in the U.S. has added Venture Design's MineTracer™ Communication and Tracking System to its portfolio. MineTracer was approved for use in underground mines by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in January 2008.
"We are really impressed with this system," said Bill Hensler, WMS President, "Venture Design did their homework and MineTracer is currently the only wireless tracking system approved by MSHA under 30CFR Part 23."
Wholesale Mine Supply has over 85 communications system installations nationwide and prides itself in delivering complete turnkey communications solutions. In addition to sales and distribution, WMS provides MineTracer System planning, installation, training, and support services.
MineTracer was designed to provide accurate tracking and flexible coverage areas, and the system is MINER Act compliant for survivability and standby power capacity. The typical MineTracer System provides continuous or zonal tracking of miners and equipment along main travel entries, work areas, and escapeways. Miners have the option of wearing a tracking device called a Mobile Communicator which also has an emergency alert capability or a two-way Text Messaging Mobile Communicator with built-in tracking. Wireless Access Points (WAPs) collect and communicate location and message data via neighboring WAPs through the network up to the mine office. Three-color LED strobes on the WAPs are used to acknowledge messages sent and to signal section or mine-wide conditions or evacuation. The location of each miner is displayed on a map and in tabular form on a computer in the mine office. Location data for up to hundreds of devices and 28 miles of mine coverage is updated every 20 seconds providing constant safety monitoring of miners from the mine office. In the event of a mine accident, MineTracer will operate continuously on batteries for days after the power has been cut off to the mine.
In addition to monitoring miners and equipment, MineTracer can also collect and report fixed or mobile sensor data for gasses and air flow. Wireless sensors for CO, methane, CO2, and air-flow are available with the MineTracer system.
"We have a portable MineTracer demo kit that allows us to set up a mini-network in an office or mine," said Hensler, "We can demonstrate the system, user-interface, and show how easy it is to place the Wireless Access Points."
"MineTracer has proven its reliability at a reference site installation in West Virginia for over a year," said Hensler, "and Venture has continued to improve the system and recently received MSHA approval for longer range Wireless Access Points and extended standby performance."
April 14, 2008
MineTracer™ Receives MSHA's Approval for Text-Messaging Location Transponder
Liberty Lake, WA: Venture Design Services Inc. and Helicomm Inc. announced today the MineTracer Text-Messaging Location Transponder (TMLT) has been approved for use in underground mines by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). With this approval, the MineTracer system addresses both the communications and tracking provisions of the MINER Act of 2006.
"This handheld device provides wireless two-way communications for every miner," said Jim Barrett, Venture Design R&D Manager. "The MineTracer network has the capacity for all miners underground to communicate to the surface at once which is important during an emergency event.
Mine operators required to comply with the MINER Act of 2006 now have access to two- way wireless communications and tracking capability integrated into a single system. Maintenance for operators is simplified in that only one system needs to be installed and monitored.
"We've been using MineTracer for safety monitoring in our mine since August of 2007," said Mona Marcum, Safety Director for Southern West Virginia Resources. "I know where our miners are at all times. Now, we'll have wireless communications with our underground personnel."
MineTracer provides location information for miners and assets underground during everyday operations and more importantly provides continuous communications and tracking information for days in the event of an accident when power is shut off to the mine.
With the certification by MSHA, operators can install MineTracer systems with no contingencies (pending MSHA approval) attached. The West Virginia state functionality requirements and federal safety requirements have been satisfied for every component of the MineTracer system.
"MSHA's approval of the TMLT is an affirmation that the MineTracer development team's efforts of the last few years have been successful," said Ken Hill, Helicomm's director of sales. "We will now focus on integrating productivity features to help accelerate the return of a MineTracer investment."
February 1, 2008
MineTracer™ Receives MSHA's First Wireless Tracking System Approval
Liberty Lake, WA - Venture Design Services Inc. and Helicomm Inc. announced today the MineTracer Miner Location Monitoring System has been approved for use in underground mines by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). MineTracer is the first wireless tracking system approved since enactment of the MINER Act of 2006 which mandates post-accident communication and tracking in mines.
"The system infrastructure as approved by MSHA today addresses the MINER Act requirements," said Jim Barrett, Venture's Wireless Sensor Networks R&D manager. "We enable wireless location tracking, communication, and environmental monitoring in a single system."
The typical system layout provides continuous tracking of miners along main haulage entries and work areas. In the event of a mine accident, MineTracer will operate continuously on batteries for days after the power has been cut off to the mine. Additional communication and monitoring features will be seamlessly integrated and introduced over the coming months to further enhance the value of the system to mine operators.
With about one third of the country's underground coal mines, West Virginia has been leading the charge in evaluating communication and tracking systems. A MineTracer system has been installed and operating in Southern West Virginia Resources' Big Branch Mine since June 2007. The mine site has been the demonstration platform for interested mine operators and West Virginia legislators.
In addition to intrinsic safety testing and approval, MSHA engineers recently evaluated the functional performance of the MineTracer system at Big Branch. Engineers measured the wireless ranges of the system including the performance through stoppings and across belt lines and other obstructions. Exercising one of the most important capabilities of the system, MSHA engineers observed a seamless transition to backup battery performance after the MineTracer network was cut-off from AC power. Strobe lights on the Wireless Access Points were shown to have multiple uses including signaling mine safety status or evacuation. The large high-definition monitor in the mine office displayed the fluid movement of miners and equipment section-by-section. Venture engineers also demonstrated the MineTracer system's ability to transmit wireless mobile methane sensor data from the miner up to the mine office.
"The MineTracer system works well and with continuous tracking we know the location of everyone underground at all times," said Kenny Morgan, Big Branch Mine maintenance manager.
Choosing the right technology from the beginning was crucial for meeting the ambitious goals of the MINER Act which include wireless coverage, redundancy, and post accident serviceability. Venture opted for Helicomm's ZigBee-based wireless networking which enables very large, low powered, meshed networks.
"MSHA's approval of MineTracer represents a quantum leap for safety systems in the coal industry," said Ken Hill, Helicomm's director of sales. "It is truly bringing 21st century technology into the mines."
MSHA News Release: 01/31/2008
MSHA approves first wireless tracking system
New technology represents significant progress under MINER Act
ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced it has issued its first official approval of a wireless tracking system for use in underground mines. The approval was issued by MSHA's Approval and Certification Center to Venture Design Services Inc. for the MineTracer Miner Location Monitoring System.
"Since the Sago Mine disaster, MSHA has received dozens of proposals from manufacturers and distributors of emergency communication and tracking systems," said Richard E. Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "This approved system provides a wireless means for mine operators to track miners underground both before and after an emergency event."
The system components normally will be interconnected with low-voltage DC power cables; however, in the event of an emergency, the power cables become de-energized, and the system will resort to battery power and can remain operational wirelessly. Although not yet incorporated in the design, Venture Design intends to add text messaging and gas detection to the system in the future.
Since 2006, MSHA has issued 36 new or revised approvals for communications and tracking systems, including a hand-held portable radio, several leaky feeder systems and several radio frequency identification (RFID) tracking system components. MSHA currently is examining 41 additional communications and tracking approval applications, including several wireless communications and tracking systems.
The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 requires that each mine evacuation plan include provisions for tracking the pre-accident location of all underground miners. Furthermore, the MINER Act requires that mine operators adopt wireless communications and electronic tracking systems by June 2009.
MSHA's Approval and Certification Center tests a wide range of mining equipment, components, instruments and materials to ensure that they meet government standards for safe design and construction. This work helps to ensure that the various products will not contribute to an explosion, fire, electrical failure, vehicle crash or other kind of accident. The center, located near Wheeling, W.Va., houses laboratories, explosion galleries and offices that perform administrative work and recordkeeping.
December 6, 2007
Helicomm and Venture Design Services Announced Text Messaging Mobile Communicator
CARLSBAD, CA, - Helicomm, Inc. and Venture Design Services Inc. (VDSI) today announced that another milestone in their joint product development for mine safety has been reached.
The Text Messaging Mobile Communicator (TMC), an integral part of MineTracer™, the ZigBee-based tracking, monitoring, and emergency messaging system, was approved by West Virginia's Office of Miner's Health, Safety & Training for communications and tracking devices as required by West Virginia Legislative Rule §56-4-8.
MineTracer is a fully integrated 2-way wireless communication and location tracking system designed to satisfy both local and federal regulations. The TMC enables all equipped miners to simultaneously maintain 2-way communications with the mine office where their location and messages are time-stamped and recorded. Unlike voice systems, every miner can communicate with the mine office in parallel, and the digital technology provides a history to include the who, what, where and when of every message sent or received.
"We believe it's important for every miner underground to be able to communicate to the surface - especially during an emergency," said Ken Hill, director of sales, Helicomm. "This certification allows us to move forward with additional 2-way communication capability and continue our mission of improving mine safety."
MineTracer was included in the first group of approved products by the state's Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training on June 6, 2007. West Virginia required mine operators to submit initial plans for communications and tracking systems under legislative rule Title 56 Series 4 during Q2 2007. Final plans are being approved to meet the requirements of the new rules.
"The key accomplishment with this approval is to provide a communication and tracking solution in a single system. There will be no restrictions for use of the TMC device in any hazardous areas of any mine," said Eric Pirttima, business development manager, VDSI. "This technology provides a safer environment for the miners and peace of mind for their families."
October 4, 2007
Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) Certifies Venture Design Services' Mobile Location Transponder
CARLSBAD, October, 4 — Venture Design Services Inc. (VDSI) and Helicomm, Inc. today announced that another milestone in their joint product development for mine safety has been reached. The Mobile Location Transponder (MLT), an integral part of MineTracer™, the ZigBee-based tracking, monitoring, and emergency messaging system, was fully approved for intrinsic safety in a methane-air environment by MSHA.
MineTracer is a location, tracking and communications system now under review by owner/operators of more than 60 coal mines. The majority of these mines are located in West Virginia where safety plans have been mandated by state law. The MLT is a device for tracking miners or "tagging" anything in a mine: rover, mantrip, longwall machine, or other equipment.
"MineTracer continues to be the benchmark for self configuring, low-power, location and tracking systems," said Ken Hill, director of sales, Helicomm. "This certification allows us to move forward with additional capability and continue our mission of improving mine safety."
MineTracer was included in the first group of approved products by the state's Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training on June 6, 2007. West Virginia required mine operators to submit initial plans for communications and tracking systems under legislative rule Title 56 Series 4 during Q2 2007. It is expected that final plans will be submitted in October of this year to meet the requirements of the new rules.
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