1
24-049
Ground Control Monitoring: A Comprehensive Guide for Mine
Operators on Instrumentation and Data Acquisition Currently
Used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH)
Todd Minoski
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Mark Mazzella
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Matthew McElhinney
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Craig Compton
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Morgan Sears
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
ABSTRACT
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) is staffed with Engineers, Geologists, and
Field Technicians conducting a variety of ground control
research. The mission of the ground control teams within
the Mine Systems Safety Branch (MSSB) is to eliminate
ground failures leading to mineworker injuries and fatali-
ties. Advancing the science behind ground control relies
heavily on conducting mutually beneficial research at par-
ticipating mines which is detailed in specific references
throughout the paper.
The ground control teams have several types of field
instruments at their disposal to measure the ground
response in underground mines. These include borehole
pressure cells (BPCs), vibrating wire stress meters (VWs),
hollow inclusion cells (Hi-Cells), roof and rib extensome-
ters, load cells, and convergence meters. These instruments
are used to measure changes in pressure, strain, and dis-
placement within the underground environment.
Instrumentation data is collected automatically using
intrinsically safe or MSHA permissible dataloggers if
required. Information is transmitted to the dataloggers
using approved cable to distances of 200–1,000 ft. depend-
ing on the type of datalogger being used. Once mining is
completed, the dataloggers are retrieved and brought to the
surface, providing in-mine data to mine management and
engineers for the conditions currently being encountered in
a particular mine.
This data, in conjunction with geologic data and stress
mapping, can be used to validate numerical models. The
practical application of these models is extremely impor-
tant for mine management and engineers, particularly
when faced with more challenging mine environments.
Insight gained from applying these models can be used to
make better engineering-based judgments for areas that will
be mined in the future. The impact of such applications can
result in a reduction of ground-fall accidents and injuries as
well as generally safer working conditions.
INTRODUCTION
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) relies heavily on field instrumentation to carry
out ground control research. The data collected and knowl-
edge gained not only assists in the validation of models and
insight on potential ground control hazards but can also be
mutually beneficial to the participating mine. The ground
behavior analyzed can provide the information to make
better engineering-based judgments when planning future
mining areas.
Through decades of instrumenting underground
mines, NIOSH has adapted, designed, and innovated
many aspects of ground-control monitoring. This paper
24-049
Ground Control Monitoring: A Comprehensive Guide for Mine
Operators on Instrumentation and Data Acquisition Currently
Used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health (NIOSH)
Todd Minoski
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Mark Mazzella
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Matthew McElhinney
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Craig Compton
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
Morgan Sears
CDC NIOSH, Pittsburgh, PA
ABSTRACT
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) is staffed with Engineers, Geologists, and
Field Technicians conducting a variety of ground control
research. The mission of the ground control teams within
the Mine Systems Safety Branch (MSSB) is to eliminate
ground failures leading to mineworker injuries and fatali-
ties. Advancing the science behind ground control relies
heavily on conducting mutually beneficial research at par-
ticipating mines which is detailed in specific references
throughout the paper.
The ground control teams have several types of field
instruments at their disposal to measure the ground
response in underground mines. These include borehole
pressure cells (BPCs), vibrating wire stress meters (VWs),
hollow inclusion cells (Hi-Cells), roof and rib extensome-
ters, load cells, and convergence meters. These instruments
are used to measure changes in pressure, strain, and dis-
placement within the underground environment.
Instrumentation data is collected automatically using
intrinsically safe or MSHA permissible dataloggers if
required. Information is transmitted to the dataloggers
using approved cable to distances of 200–1,000 ft. depend-
ing on the type of datalogger being used. Once mining is
completed, the dataloggers are retrieved and brought to the
surface, providing in-mine data to mine management and
engineers for the conditions currently being encountered in
a particular mine.
This data, in conjunction with geologic data and stress
mapping, can be used to validate numerical models. The
practical application of these models is extremely impor-
tant for mine management and engineers, particularly
when faced with more challenging mine environments.
Insight gained from applying these models can be used to
make better engineering-based judgments for areas that will
be mined in the future. The impact of such applications can
result in a reduction of ground-fall accidents and injuries as
well as generally safer working conditions.
INTRODUCTION
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) relies heavily on field instrumentation to carry
out ground control research. The data collected and knowl-
edge gained not only assists in the validation of models and
insight on potential ground control hazards but can also be
mutually beneficial to the participating mine. The ground
behavior analyzed can provide the information to make
better engineering-based judgments when planning future
mining areas.
Through decades of instrumenting underground
mines, NIOSH has adapted, designed, and innovated
many aspects of ground-control monitoring. This paper