Development of a Prototype Thermal Imaging Rockfall Detection System

Rockfalls pose a critical risk to the mining industry. In collaboration with NIOSH and industry partners, the Geotechnical Center of Excellence (GCE) has previously shown that thermal video can effectively observe rockfall events. Currently, work is underway to automate the detection, tracking, and alarming of these events. To facilitate this work, a prototype thermal imaging system that uses an early version of the detection algorithm has been developed. Designed to withstand extreme environments, the system can be easily transported with a light vehicle and installed in under 20 minutes. It includes a high-resolution security-type thermal camera, a tripod, a processing unit in a weatherproof case, and a backup battery to mitigate temporary power loss. While initially developed for detecting rockfall in open pit mines, the system can be customized for specific use cases. The presentation will provide an overview of the prototype's deployments and associated research to date, document lessons learned, and outline plans for future prototype development.