Mining security

Among the most challenging of environments from a security as well as a safety perspective, mines need to adopt highly specialised, multi-faceted systems if they’re going to be effective in their fight against crime, say the experts.

The challenge, though, is to identify and implement an effective system that will not only protect the premises and people but also add to the profitability of the mine.

Can this even be done?

Yes, says Benedict Weaver, managing director of Zero Foundation Africa, which is regularly employed by mining companies to advise them on everything security related.

The major security challenges go far beyond physical and technical solutions, though, he says. Citing a lack of executive support for security along with security management’s misunderstanding of its responsibilities within the organisation, he says the best systems start with the appointment of a security director or chief security officer to the board. In so doing, he explains, the security function will be dictated by a corporate security policy with documented procedures, guidelines and standards.

He continues: “The extent of security management’s responsibility is clear: to protect and optimise the company’s four critical assets namely property, people, information and reputation. In this way, the security department provides both a loss control and a revenue assurance function.”

“From our experience in providing security management consulting for mining companies in the Lufilian Arc (which extends from the Zambian Copperbelt around Kitwe to the Katanga region in the DRC) and the Sahel region (which extends from Mauritania to northern Uganda), it is clear that Africa’s mineral resources are becoming more important to a world fuelled by commodity consumption.

“Therefore, as the number of financial investments in mining operations and related functions increase throughout the continent, security professionals need to play an influential role in creating the correct environment in which security solutions can be effectively adopted.

“Otherwise, any efforts to control losses will incur increased costs of manpower

and technology systems. These increased costs will impact on the profitability of the mines every year.”

Challenges Each mine has its own unique challenges, says Mr Weaver, adding: “Such challenges will be identified during an initial risk assessment, which will address environmental concerns, compliance issues, camp management, safety protocols and a lack of qualified security staff.”

“With 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves based on the African continent, some near urban or peri-urban areas and others in remote or potentially hostile environments, security management teams need to be involved from the outset. Their involvement is critical during the planning stages of a mine, through construction and development, to the end of its operating life when mines often have to be returned to their original natural condition. This is a common environmental requirement for many public-private partnerships (PPP) with governments in Africa.”

The ideal security system for a modernday mine therefore needs to include individuals who, collectively, have the experience or the thinking to be able to identify the range of risks facing a mine throughout the course of its life, says Mr Weaver. “In this way, long-term strategies will inform short-term solutions and provide a holistic answer to the common question of how to protect lives and profits.”

Beyond surveillance

Mark Shepperson is the Brand and Marketing Manager of Cathexis Technologies, which has as its clients some of the world’s largest coal, diamond, copper and platinum mines. Today’s best security systems combine integration capability, real-time monitoring and the ability to operate reliably in even the most hostile environments, he says. Features include multi-tier system management, IP and analogue CCTV hybrid solutions, megapixel camera support, smart video analytics, unlimited scalability, access control integration, remote and multiple site management capability, centralised alarm management and sophisticated health monitoring.

Multi-tiered event management uses an alarm management gateway that matches events with actions, he explains. Able to escalate events to second and third management tiers, it should also be able to manage several sites from a single central command centre.

Video analytics need to encompass smart video motion detection, abandoned object analysis, post object search, object tracking, loitering, speed and direction and object counting, he continues. Bestin-class analytics software trigger alarms which enables the system to take userdefined actions such as notifying control room gateways, moving PTZ cameras to pre-set positions, sending alarms, SMSs or emails to selected recipients, switching selected cameras to selected monitors, and switching devices on or off.

The ability to integrate various third party systems is also critical. “Integration is enhanced by predetermined actions upon receiving information from various systems and the association of specific actions for events,” he explains. Third-party systems include access control, fire and alarm panels, X-Ray systems and plant management systems.

The interactive user interface provides a visual representation of a site or multiple sites, says Mr Shepperson further. Operators can navigate through multiple layers of maps to selected sites, drag-and-drop cameras to selected monitors, control outputs and move PTZ cameras. Users can also navigate multiple sites throughout the enterprise with the map facility.

“It’s all about continuous monitoring of all the components, including hardware and software integrity, and providing automated warnings of possible or impending failure so that maintenance engineers can act to prevent a system failure,” he says.

Visual components

For Laurence Smith of Graphic Image Technologies, the top security system starts with the visual components. “With the right mix of thermal cameras, 4K visual cameras and an intelligent video management system, coupled with smart analytics, it’s much easier and more cost-effective to physically secure mining premises to detect and / or prevent unauthorised access,” he says.

“In security, the importance of visual surveillance cannot be over-emphasised. In mining applications, its purpose is to detect, prevent and deter “zama-zamas” (illegal miners), as well as provide evidence that can be used to catch and prosecute them. Because mining properties usually have such large perimeters, standard CCTV surveillance imaging won’t cut it. The distances and the lighting requirements are just too great. Instead, pan/tilt or fixed thermal cameras will offer the most useful eyes as they operate just as effectively by day as by night without the need for any lighting. These military-grade cameras have low power requirements and multiple lens options that allow surveillance operators to view images in environments with little or no lighting. Thermal camera technology detects ‘heat signatures’ generated from objects and people to create an image of the environment.”

Owing to the vastness of many mining sites, the cost of perimeter fencing can be prohibitive, he continues, adding that it also can’t guarantee to keep zama-zamas out. This is where 4K cameras can play a vital role in mining surveillance. “They can

capture higher quality footage with the additional benefit of up to four times more detail at full 25 frames per second (fps) than today’s top full HD 1080p cameras and legacy 10MP cameras,” he explains.

This allows operators to cover vast distances and electronically zoom in on areas of the picture without losing detail, with the added benefit of postevent playback.

4K cameras can also be coupled with thermal cameras so that operators are able to see in total darkness and bright daylight. “Thermal cameras can penetrate through dust, smoke and any adverse weather conditions with an effective detection range of up to 1km, depending on the lens used,” says Mr Smith.

“This is especially useful in a mining environment where dust and smoke are prevalent. By using thermal cameras, the mine can also reduce the overall number of cameras required in a surveillance setup, given their extensive range. With the right visual security technology solution in place, security operators will improve their intruder capture rate while reducing the overall risk to security personnel, along with preventing the loss of revenue, jobs and foreign exchange earnings.”

Safety

From a safety perspective, technology also has a vital role to play, says Lukas van der Merwe at T-Systems South Africa. The South African mining sector frequently faces criticism for its poor safety record and high number of fatalities, which is where technology comes in. The proper utilisation of technology, especially the Internet of Things (IoT), has a critical to play in improving safety, he says.

Adds his colleague Jeanette Jacobs: “Operational Technology (OT), used to control physical processes, devices and infrastructure within an industrial environment, used to be a completely isolated and closed system, only accessible by whoever was on the mine’s network. And it had no internet connection,” she says.

“With the advent of IoT, you can connect devices so that they can be remotely managed and accessible from anywhere at any time, which increases the risk of cyberthreats and hacking.”

“We’ve reached a point where the proliferation of these devices has reached a critical mass in terms of the exposure it brings to the environment,” she says.

“If an OT device is hacked, it can potentially kill people.”

Accordingly, mine operators must start thinking beyond the benefits of IoT and consider the potential risks that cyberthreats pose for these disparate devices. Aside from the risks, though, the opportunities and benefits of IoT in mining are immense, she continues, adding that IoT applications can address the wellbeing of employees in terms of monitoring and controlling air quality, temperature, pressure, impact and vibration.

IoT can also help locate missing and trapped miners, and warn of seismic activity and poor air quality.

“Many of world’s most advanced industrial operations are now fully automated. Driverless vehicles are monitored and managed from remote locations. Preventative maintenance allows for the monitoring and replacement of components before they fail.

“IoT has had a significant part to play in this. If you take humans out of equation, it is the ultimate step in terms of health and safety. However, cybersecurity then becomes crucial. The more you automate, the higher the risk,” concludes Mr van der Merwe.