Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

MS

College

Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

Department

Mining Engineering

Committee Chair

Vladislav Kecojevic

Abstract

Data management of production records has become a key element in surface coal mining operations. Information systems (IS) and information technologies (IT) can be used as valuable tools for the production monitoring and analysis of employee and equipment performances. This thesis presents the research results on the development and application of a custom-made Truck Cycle and Delay Automated Data Collection System (TCD-ADCS) for surface coal mining. The TCD-ADCS is capable of collecting trucks' production data, delay times, loading and dumping times, travel distance, and GPS coordinates of production events from a mine site. Also, it enables field data transfer through a wireless network to a server located in an office environment. Additionally, the system is compatible with the already developed Integrated Production Management System (IPMS). Data are locally stored in each truck and then synchronized and replicated into a centralized server containing database management system for analysis and reporting. The system relies on motion sensing and distance traveled in order to automatically define the cycle starting/ending points, cycle time, position, and delay time. Connectivity and communication between loading equipment and trucks have also been established. A user-friendly graphic interface has been developed for the communication between the equipment operators and TCD-ADCS system. The infrastructure used for the development of this system application consists in a rugged touch-screen personal computer, 2.4 GHz radio transmitter antenna, and a high-sensitivity commercial GPS receiver. The system was developed, tested, and deployed at a surface coal mines in the U.S.

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