1
25-100
Visualizing Rock Mass Displacement and Strain Data
for Interpretation of Tarp Levels as a Safety Measure:
A Case Study at the San Xavier (SX)
Nilufer K. B. Akbulut
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Angelina Anani
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Sefiu O. Adewuyi
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
ABSTRACT
Crucial information about safety, design, and operation can
be utilized in underground mines from ground movement
data. Communicating the information and exploring new
findings can be a challenge in a decade where there is an
ever-increasing volume and velocity of data due to advance-
ments in mining technologies. This challenge escalates for
geotechnical data as it is multidimensional, depending on
the space and the rate it takes place. To tackle this chal-
lenge, geotechnical engineers should focus on utilizing sim-
ple yet compelling visualization of rock mass data in 3D.
Competent visualizations of ground conditions as a Trigger
Action and Response Plan (TARP) could ease the com-
munication of safety concerns and the exploration of rock
mass displacement and strain surrounding an opening at an
underground mine. Therefore, this study focuses on using
scientific visualization methods by rendering geotechni-
cal data over the surface of a 3D mesh model to display
TARP levels. The study is conducted at the San Xavier (SX)
Underground Mine Laboratory’s East decline. The project
aims to produce visualizations that optimize the use of geo-
technical data in near-real-time.
INTRODUCTION
Spatiotemporal analysis of ground movement around an
opening at an underground mine is important for geotech-
nical assessment, monitoring hazards and risks, and ground
support. However, there are some challenges in analyzing
spatiotemporal data in an underground environment. The
rock mass is a heterogeneous body with macro and micro-
structures, changing geology, and changing strengths. This
nature of rock mass becomes even more variable as mining
projects are not bound to a small area over the course of
a couple of months but are bound over a large ore body
and host rock during the whole life of the mine. Therefore,
analytical methods and predictive simulations of rock mass
movement can fall short without sufficient data collection
of the current state of the rock mass. Nevertheless, the col-
lected numerical data can be hard to analyze and to drive
information. So, with adequate data on rock mass move-
ment, visualizations can be created in 2D and 3D, for data
analysis or scientific representation. The data could also
be utilized to calibrate and improve already existing ana-
lytical methods and simulations. For the purposes given
above, this paper showcases a demonstration of a simple
yet effective 3D visualization of rock displacement at the
SX Laboratory mine’s East decline. The following section
gives a brief background on the decline where the project
is implemented.
The SX Laboratory Mine
The San Xavier (SX) underground mining laboratory is
situated about 48 km south of Tucson, Arizona, in the
Northern Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 1,085 meters
(3,560 feet) above sea level. The area has an average annual
temperature of 65 °F. It receives approximately 32 cm of
rainfall each year (Sternberg et al., 1988). The SX mine was
originally opened in 1875 to exploit a pyro-metasomatic
ore body. Between 1880 and 1918, it produced up to
50 tons of lead, zinc, and silver per day but was forced to
close at the end of World War I due to a decline in its mar-
ket value. The mine was later reopened by the Eagle Picher
Mining Company from 1943 to 1952, during which time
production ranged from 40,000 to 80,000 tons per year.
25-100
Visualizing Rock Mass Displacement and Strain Data
for Interpretation of Tarp Levels as a Safety Measure:
A Case Study at the San Xavier (SX)
Nilufer K. B. Akbulut
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Angelina Anani
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Sefiu O. Adewuyi
Mining and Geological Engineering,
University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
ABSTRACT
Crucial information about safety, design, and operation can
be utilized in underground mines from ground movement
data. Communicating the information and exploring new
findings can be a challenge in a decade where there is an
ever-increasing volume and velocity of data due to advance-
ments in mining technologies. This challenge escalates for
geotechnical data as it is multidimensional, depending on
the space and the rate it takes place. To tackle this chal-
lenge, geotechnical engineers should focus on utilizing sim-
ple yet compelling visualization of rock mass data in 3D.
Competent visualizations of ground conditions as a Trigger
Action and Response Plan (TARP) could ease the com-
munication of safety concerns and the exploration of rock
mass displacement and strain surrounding an opening at an
underground mine. Therefore, this study focuses on using
scientific visualization methods by rendering geotechni-
cal data over the surface of a 3D mesh model to display
TARP levels. The study is conducted at the San Xavier (SX)
Underground Mine Laboratory’s East decline. The project
aims to produce visualizations that optimize the use of geo-
technical data in near-real-time.
INTRODUCTION
Spatiotemporal analysis of ground movement around an
opening at an underground mine is important for geotech-
nical assessment, monitoring hazards and risks, and ground
support. However, there are some challenges in analyzing
spatiotemporal data in an underground environment. The
rock mass is a heterogeneous body with macro and micro-
structures, changing geology, and changing strengths. This
nature of rock mass becomes even more variable as mining
projects are not bound to a small area over the course of
a couple of months but are bound over a large ore body
and host rock during the whole life of the mine. Therefore,
analytical methods and predictive simulations of rock mass
movement can fall short without sufficient data collection
of the current state of the rock mass. Nevertheless, the col-
lected numerical data can be hard to analyze and to drive
information. So, with adequate data on rock mass move-
ment, visualizations can be created in 2D and 3D, for data
analysis or scientific representation. The data could also
be utilized to calibrate and improve already existing ana-
lytical methods and simulations. For the purposes given
above, this paper showcases a demonstration of a simple
yet effective 3D visualization of rock displacement at the
SX Laboratory mine’s East decline. The following section
gives a brief background on the decline where the project
is implemented.
The SX Laboratory Mine
The San Xavier (SX) underground mining laboratory is
situated about 48 km south of Tucson, Arizona, in the
Northern Sonoran Desert at an elevation of 1,085 meters
(3,560 feet) above sea level. The area has an average annual
temperature of 65 °F. It receives approximately 32 cm of
rainfall each year (Sternberg et al., 1988). The SX mine was
originally opened in 1875 to exploit a pyro-metasomatic
ore body. Between 1880 and 1918, it produced up to
50 tons of lead, zinc, and silver per day but was forced to
close at the end of World War I due to a decline in its mar-
ket value. The mine was later reopened by the Eagle Picher
Mining Company from 1943 to 1952, during which time
production ranged from 40,000 to 80,000 tons per year.