Technology for continuously gathering data from tailings dams, together with the power to model and analyse that data, holds great potential for improving safety in tailings dam management.
"A key challenge in the field of tailings dams is the engineering complexity of this infrastructure, due mainly to its dynamnic nature and growth over time"
According to Lyzandra Boshoff, Principal Engineering Geologist at SRK Consulting, mines ideally need more real-time data about the changing conditions in their tailings dams over time.
Lyzandra continued to emphasise that "this is demanding that we harness technology in the way we collect, process and interpret data." For instance, SRK has used automated vibrating wire piezometers (VWPs) to gather and communicate real-time data on tailings facilities. It is essential that visualisation capabilities and interpretive tools are developed to make this data meaningful to engineering decisions.
SRK Contributor:
Lyzandra Boshoff
