Time saving tips for C-ALS Gyro and VS+ power users

If I told you, I could save you 10 or so minutes on your field time when deploying a C-ALS Gyro or VS+ on site, would you believe me?

Carlson Scan is the natural progression from the Renishaw era Cavity Profiler software. Carlson Scan is free for users and can be downloaded at www.carlsonsw.com.

Cavity Profiler in its day was excellent. It allowed us to see the C-ALS sensor data, video feed and cavity laser scanning all in real time, ensuring the system was safe and all deployments (unless a blocked hole is standing in your way!) were productive.

There were limitations with Cavity Profiler however such as the inability to import site data for real time reconciliation as well as live position editing.

We have now added such functionality (well, it has actually been a feature since the Gyro became an official product in 2019) so you can now check your deployment and scan data in real time, against site models such as block models, blast designs, drill designs, existing drives and stopes etc. No special import required, just bring in a DXF, OBJ, PLY, LAS, STL etc.

I'm reminded of a deployment I performed January 2020 where we immediately found the blasted cavity was less than 1 metre away from the operating drive.

Had we not imported the drives into Carlson Scan, it would have taken us an hour or so (best case scenario when you're not stuck behind a jumbo) to realise this as we would have needed to head back to the surface to process. We confirmed this was the case by quickly sending the C-ALS Gyro down a second nearby drill hole and commenced a second scan.

Anyways, back to my time saving tip! I’ll start off with the C-ALS Gyro.

Since the C-ALS Gyro can accurately navigate the drill hole without external reference at the time of survey, you can save time by placing the C-ALS Gyro on its Gyro Jig and calibrate the system to 0°.

Starting off with this arbitrary setup, we can now deploy the C-ALS Gyro through the drill hole. Once we break through into the cavity, lock off the C-ALS Gyro and begin scanning.

This is where I save a little time in the field:

Once the system has commenced its scan, you can setup your total station and wall stations for your resection (or GNSS on the surface). At this point, you will coordinate the Gyro Jig and the As Drilled collar (as usual).

In Carlson Scan, navigate to the Projects Tab, highlight the Station (Collar) and go into the Properties box. Enter the collar coordinates and the Gyro Jig Azimuth.

You will then see the live data shift to the correct spot.

If you have supporting data such as blocks, blast designs, drill designs, existing drives, stopes etc, you will see these all overlay immediately and in 3D.

For the VS+, follow the same steps but you will coordinate the prism on the VS+ as well as the azimuth of the setup.

Once the scan is complete, you have nothing else to do except to pack up and head back to the office with fully processed and validated data.

If you are lucky enough to have an offsider with you, they can start exporting solids, point clouds and volumes on the drive back.

I will attempt to post regular tips and tricks for all of the Mining and Drill and Blast systems we develop, manufacture and sell. If there is anything you readers are interested in, let me know and I'll write it up!

4th June 2021 | Daniel Nanthathammiko | [email protected]