Mining

Mining Infrastructure Monitoring

Fiber Optic Monitoring for Underground Mines, Conveyors, Processing Plants and Critical Assets

Continuous Facility Insight

Continuous Monitoring Across Mining Operations

A mine does not operate as a single environment. Underground tunnels, open-pit areas, processing plants, conveyor routes and stockpiles each create different monitoring conditions.

What they share is limited access, harsh operating conditions and the need to locate developing problems before they interrupt production.

FOTAS provides Distributed Temperature Sensing (DTS) and Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) solutions for mining infrastructure.

DTS measures temperature continuously along the sensing fiber. DAS detects acoustic and vibration activity around the cable. Both technologies integrate with mine control, safety, maintenance and security platforms.

Integrated FOTAS fiber optic condition monitoring across mining infrastructure

KEY CHALLENGES

Key Mining Monitoring Challenges

Monitoring equipment in a mine must continue working around dust, moisture, vibration, material movement and extreme temperature changes. Long tunnels, shafts, conveyors and remote electrical routes also make manual inspection difficult.

Underground Fire Risk

Abnormal temperature rise and fire development in tunnels, shafts and difficult-to-access underground areas.

Conveyor Overheating

Thermal faults affecting idlers, bearings, motors, drive systems and friction points along conveyor routes.

Electrical Hot Spots

Localized heating at power cables, joints, terminations, substations and high-load electrical equipment.

Belt Misalignment and Friction

Heat generation caused by belt movement, material buildup and mechanical contact with conveyor structures.

Stockpile Self-Heating

Internal temperature development in coal, ore and other bulk materials before surface signs become visible.

Restricted Route Security

Intrusion, excavation and physical interference near communication, power and utility infrastructure.

DISTRIBUTED TEMPERATURE SENSING

FOTAS DTS for Conveyor and Linear Heat Detection

Distributed thermal monitoring along conveyor systems, underground tunnels and critical mining routes.

Distributed Temperature Sensing

Continuous Conveyor Temperature Profiling

FOTAS DTS uses optical fiber as a continuous linear temperature sensor. The control unit sends laser pulses through the fiber and analyzes Raman backscatter to calculate temperature along the route.

On conveyor systems, the sensing cable follows the belt structure and selected mechanical risk points. The resulting temperature profile reveals overheating idlers, bearings, motors and friction zones.

It also helps identify thermal effects caused by belt misalignment or material buildup. Alarm zones can correspond to individual conveyor sections, allowing the monitoring system to identify the affected area.

Conveyor idlers and bearings
Drive motors and gear systems
Belt misalignment and friction zones
Material transfer and loading points
Underground tunnels and shafts

FOTAS DTS temperature monitoring along a mining conveyor route

Overheating Detection Identifies temperature development around idlers, bearings, motors and drive components.

Section-Based Alarm Location Alarm zoning helps operators locate the affected conveyor or underground route section.

Automated Response Depending on the project, alarms may initiate conveyor shutdown, ventilation control or operator notification.

THERMAL ASSET MONITORING

Thermal Monitoring Across Critical Mine Assets

Temperature data supports fire safety, asset protection and maintenance across electrical, mechanical and storage areas.

Fiber optic temperature monitoring of mining conveyor bearings and drive equipment

Electrical Infrastructure

Power Cable and Connection Monitoring

DTS monitors power cable routes, joints and terminations for localized heating and abnormal operating conditions.

Fixed Equipment

Crushers, Mills and Drive Systems

Selected thermal risk points may reveal lubrication failure, mechanical friction or abnormal electrical loading before a larger fault develops.

Bulk Material Storage

Stockpile Self-Heating

Fiber installed within or around storage zones provides temperature information and helps locate internal hot areas in coal, ore and other bulk materials.

Geotechnical Monitoring Note

Temperature data may support tailings dam and embankment monitoring where thermal variations relate to seepage or internal movement. Results must be interpreted alongside geotechnical instruments, inspections and site-specific engineering analysis.

DISTRIBUTED ACOUSTIC SENSING

FOTAS DAS for Perimeters and Infrastructure Routes

Distributed acoustic and vibration monitoring for mine boundaries and critical external infrastructure.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing

Perimeter and Route Protection

FOTAS DAS converts optical fiber into a distributed acoustic and vibration sensor. Fence-mounted, buried or hybrid installations support perimeter security and the protection of communication, power and utility routes.

AI-based analytics classify patterns such as walking, vehicle movement, digging, climbing and fence cutting. Environmental filtering helps reduce nuisance alarms.

Event location data directs security teams, cameras or patrols toward the affected infrastructure section.

Open-pit mine boundaries
Processing plant perimeters
Buried communication routes
Power and utility corridors
Restricted storage and handling zones

FOTAS DAS perimeter and infrastructure route security along a mining site boundary

System Architecture

Integration, Passive Sensing and Deployment

DTS and DAS control units are installed in control rooms or protected enclosures. Monitoring data connects to SCADA, mine control, conveyor protection, fire suppression and asset management systems.

Depending on the project, alarms may trigger conveyor shutdown, ventilation control or operator notification.

The sensing fiber requires no electrical power along the monitored route and is immune to electromagnetic interference. The cable itself introduces no electrical ignition source beside conveyors, cables or combustible materials.

The complete installation must still be designed for the relevant hazardous-area classification. Interrogators, power supplies, connection equipment and enclosures require appropriate placement and certification where Ex-rated equipment is necessary.

SCADA Mine Control Conveyor Protection Fire Suppression Ventilation Control Asset Management

FOTAS mining monitoring system architecture connecting DTS and DAS to control platforms

Key Benefits

Key Deployment Considerations

System performance depends on how the sensing cable is selected, routed and protected within the mining environment.

FOTAS DTS deployment across mining conveyor, electrical and storage environments

Ruggedized Cable Selection Armored and environmentally suitable fiber for dust, moisture, vibration and mining operations.

Mechanical Protection Protection against moving equipment, falling material, maintenance work and material flow.

Thermal Coupling Correct positioning relative to bearings, cables, stockpiles and monitored equipment.

Alarm Zoning Logical zones aligned with conveyor sections, underground routes and response procedures.

Redundancy Loop layouts and redundant configurations for high-risk safety applications.

Explore the Technology Guide

Mining Monitoring

Monitor Critical Mining Infrastructure

Talk to our engineering team about a FOTAS DTS or DAS configuration for underground mines, conveyors, processing plants and secure infrastructure routes.

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