Southern Mapping Company (SMC) is a world leader in providing topographic surveying and mapping for the mining sector. Its team of highly skilled surveying and geographical information system (GIS) staff offer services to support mineral exploration, mine management, planning and rehabilitation.

The company combines aerial lidar and hyperspectral technologies to produce highly accurate surveys and maps. It is a priority for the company to extend its knowledge and technical expertise into Africa and support the growth of infrastructure development throughout the continent. A sample of our clients includes BHP Billiton, Vale, Angelo America, De Beers and Exxaro.

Aerial lidar mine mapping

The SMC team introduced airborne laser surveying to Africa and the southern hemisphere in the mid-1990s, and is now a recognised world leader in the industry. With the recent purchase of an airborne laser terrain mapper (ATLM) Orion M200 sensor, SMC is now the first commercial owner of the world’s smallest, full-system ALTM lidar sensor.

The Orion ALTM uses laser distance-measuring technology to perform highly accurate and dense topographic mapping. The Orion – combined with a digital camera – fires 200,000 laser pulses per second, resulting in extremely precise and high-speed digital terrain mapping. This extent of detail in our surveys varies according to client requirements.

Lidar mapping for the mining industry

The SMC team has surveyed mines and exploration areas in many countries across the globe. Our professional survey results are used for a number of applications throughout the lifecycle of a mine. Our key mining sector services include aerial surveys for:

Disaster planning

GIS data capturing

Calculation of pit and stockpile volumes

Audit surveys

As-build surveys

Infrastructure design

Mine expansion planning

Environmental rehabilitation and monitoring

Surveys in dangerous or inaccessible places

Slimes dams design, survey and monitoring

High-accuracy DTM for enhanced geophysical analysis

Hyperspectral remote sensing technology

Hyperspectral remote sensing, a result of the integration of optical remote sensing and traditional spectroscopic technologies, allows for the differentiation of unique spectral signatures of targets on the surface of the earth.

Hyperspectral systems now make it possible to collect and analyse hundreds of spectral bands across the electromagnetic spectrum, providing detailed spectral data previously not possible through multi-spectral systems.

Hyperspectral mining applications

The huge volumes of multi-dimensional data collected by hyperspectral systems make a wide diversity of mining applications possible. SMC can assist mine management in detecting mineral deposits, indentifying and monitoring mining operations, as well as providing an accurate assessment of the extent of how tailings (dumps) have changed over time, which is necessary in calculating the lifecycle of a mine.

Hyperspectral imagery for mine mapping and monitoring

Mine pollution supervision is a primary objective at mines. Hyperspectral imagery allows the mining industry and environmental managers to obtain spatially comprehensive and accurate data for mapping and monitoring effects that the mine has on the environment, which assists in ensuring that rehabilitation measures are adhered to.

Lidar and hyperspectral surveys

SMC is focused on the unique needs of your mining operations. We operate on a policy of open communication and focus on the priorities of your mine management team. We deliver customised lidar and hyperspectral surveys that are highly detailed and accurate.

Contact Details

Southern Mapping Company Pty Ltd39 Kingfisher DriveFourwaysSandton2055South AfricaContact: Peter MoirTel: +27 11 467 2609Fax: +27 11 467 3443Email: info@southernmapping.comURL: www.southernmapping.com

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