9
CONCLUSION
The features and resolution of video borescopes brings new
opportunities to enhance mine workers’ safety and health.
Their applications enable mine workers and safety profes-
sionals to quickly examine roof conditions and observe for
cracks or other features. The video can be recorded and
downloaded to a network so that geologists can review the
video and share the assessment of the rock mass in the roof
with ground control engineers at a quicker pace than ever
before.
Choosing the correct videoscope with the optimal fea-
tures may be dictated by individual operations and budgets.
However, considerations should be made related to the 8
features discussed within this paper such as a larger screen,
correct focal length, and fast refresh rate. The ability to
view a clear image of the borehole can make the difference
between knowing how to best support the roof or making
an educated guess. A quality 1080p video will capture the
bedding planes, inclusions, lithology changes, and cracks
that are present to understand the strength of the lithology
in the roof.
Representations of the strata from the videoscope
images can be displayed in geologic cross sections, models,
or images stitched together to give geologists and geome-
chanical engineers the best visualization possible of the
rockmass. This will aid in quicker and more informed deci-
sions from mine geologists and engineers to implement
sound roof control practices.
LIMITITATIONS
The features discussed and images captured were from four
videoscopes that NIOSH researchers had access to and have
used in data collection at operating mines. Accordingly,
there may be other products and features that may produce
different results in analyzing videoscope images. Videoscope
images may vary between models, and the comparisons
between the four videoscopes is a limited sample of what is
available in the marketplace.
DISCLAIMER
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official
position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). Mention of any company or product
does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.
REFERENCES
FitzSimmons, James R. (1979) RI 8345 Flexible,
Fiberoptic Stratascope for Mining Applications. The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH).
Tennant, James M. (1982) “Methods Used To Monitor
Roof Geology And Entry Supports.” International
Conference on Ground Control in Mining.
Shepherd, John L. Keith Rixon and Katherine P. Walton
(1986), “Borescope Techniques for Assisting Colliery
Roof Control,” The AusIMM Illawarra Branch,
Ground Movement and Control Related to Coal
Mining Symposium, August pp. 32–4.
Ellenberger, John (2009) “A Roof Quality Index for Stone
Mines Using Borescope Logging,” Proceedings of the
28th International Conference on Ground Control in
Mining, July pp. 1–6.
Van Dyke, M. A. Klemetti, T. and Su, W. H.
(2019) “Interpreting Entry Stability and Geologic
Hazards Utilizing Borescopes.” Society for Mining,
Metallurgy &Exploration.
Van Dyke, M. Lu, J. Su, W.H. and Hasenfus, G. (2015),
“Transitional Geology and Its Effects on Development
and Longwall Mining in Pittsburgh Seam,” Proceedings
of the 34th International Conference on Ground
Control in Mining, July pp. 309–317.
Figure 11. Multiple images stitched together from a
continuous section of a borehole
CONCLUSION
The features and resolution of video borescopes brings new
opportunities to enhance mine workers’ safety and health.
Their applications enable mine workers and safety profes-
sionals to quickly examine roof conditions and observe for
cracks or other features. The video can be recorded and
downloaded to a network so that geologists can review the
video and share the assessment of the rock mass in the roof
with ground control engineers at a quicker pace than ever
before.
Choosing the correct videoscope with the optimal fea-
tures may be dictated by individual operations and budgets.
However, considerations should be made related to the 8
features discussed within this paper such as a larger screen,
correct focal length, and fast refresh rate. The ability to
view a clear image of the borehole can make the difference
between knowing how to best support the roof or making
an educated guess. A quality 1080p video will capture the
bedding planes, inclusions, lithology changes, and cracks
that are present to understand the strength of the lithology
in the roof.
Representations of the strata from the videoscope
images can be displayed in geologic cross sections, models,
or images stitched together to give geologists and geome-
chanical engineers the best visualization possible of the
rockmass. This will aid in quicker and more informed deci-
sions from mine geologists and engineers to implement
sound roof control practices.
LIMITITATIONS
The features discussed and images captured were from four
videoscopes that NIOSH researchers had access to and have
used in data collection at operating mines. Accordingly,
there may be other products and features that may produce
different results in analyzing videoscope images. Videoscope
images may vary between models, and the comparisons
between the four videoscopes is a limited sample of what is
available in the marketplace.
DISCLAIMER
The findings and conclusions in this report are those of
the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official
position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). Mention of any company or product
does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH.
REFERENCES
FitzSimmons, James R. (1979) RI 8345 Flexible,
Fiberoptic Stratascope for Mining Applications. The
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH).
Tennant, James M. (1982) “Methods Used To Monitor
Roof Geology And Entry Supports.” International
Conference on Ground Control in Mining.
Shepherd, John L. Keith Rixon and Katherine P. Walton
(1986), “Borescope Techniques for Assisting Colliery
Roof Control,” The AusIMM Illawarra Branch,
Ground Movement and Control Related to Coal
Mining Symposium, August pp. 32–4.
Ellenberger, John (2009) “A Roof Quality Index for Stone
Mines Using Borescope Logging,” Proceedings of the
28th International Conference on Ground Control in
Mining, July pp. 1–6.
Van Dyke, M. A. Klemetti, T. and Su, W. H.
(2019) “Interpreting Entry Stability and Geologic
Hazards Utilizing Borescopes.” Society for Mining,
Metallurgy &Exploration.
Van Dyke, M. Lu, J. Su, W.H. and Hasenfus, G. (2015),
“Transitional Geology and Its Effects on Development
and Longwall Mining in Pittsburgh Seam,” Proceedings
of the 34th International Conference on Ground
Control in Mining, July pp. 309–317.
Figure 11. Multiple images stitched together from a
continuous section of a borehole