Methods, systems and devices for monitoring movement of rock in a mine

Abstract

The present invention provides method for monitoring the movement of a first rock region in a mine relative to a second rock region in the mine, the method comprising the steps of: providing a first marker device and a second marker device, the first marker device adapted to emit an electromagnetic signal, the second marker device adapted to (i) detect the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the first marker device, and (ii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected electromagnetic signal directly or indirectly to a reader device, installing the first marker device in the first rock region, installing the second marker device in the second rock region, and monitoring the information on the detected electromagnetic signal on the reader device, wherein, in use, movement of the first rock region relative to the second rock region is indicated where the second marker device detects a decrease in the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the first marker device.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method for monitoring the movement of a first rock region in a mine relative to a second rock region in the mine, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first marker device and a second marker device,
 the first marker device adapted to emit an electromagnetic signal, 
 the second marker device adapted to (i) detect the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the first marker device, and (ii) wirelessly 
   transmit information related to the detected electromagnetic signal directly or indirectly to a reader device,   installing the first marker device in the first rock region,   installing the second marker device in the second rock region, and   monitoring the information on the detected electromagnetic signal on the reader device, wherein, in use,   (i) movement of the first rock region relative to the second rock region is indicated where the second marker device detects a decrease in the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the first marker device, or   (ii) the distance between the first rock region and the second rock region, or the relative position of the first rock region to the second rock region, is determined by reference to the electromagnetic signal strength or direction emitted by the first marker device as detected by the second marker device.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio wave signal and/or the wireless transmission is by radio wave. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the information is transmitted by a mesh networking protocol. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first marker device, or the second marker device comprises a housing adapted to physically protect the electronics contained therein from a mining activity. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the first marker device, or the second marker device, or any one of the plurality of marker devices is uniquely identifiable. 
     
     
         37 . A method for monitoring the movement of a first rock region in a mine relative to a second rock region in the mine, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a plurality of marker devices, with most or all of the marker devices adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal and (ii) detect the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by a neighbouring marker device, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected electromagnetic signal directly or indirectly to a reader device,   installing the marker devices in separate regions of rock, and   monitoring the information on the detected electromagnetic signal on the reader device, wherein, in use,   (i) movement of the first rock region relative to the second rock region is indicated where one of the plurality of marker devices detects a decrease in the strength of the electromagnetic signal emitted by a neighbouring marker device, or   (ii) the distance between the first rock region and the second rock region, or the relative position of the first rock region to the second rock region, is determined by reference to the electromagnetic signal strength or direction emitted by one of the plurality of marker devices as detected by a neighbouring marker device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio wave signal and/or the wireless transmission is by radio wave. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the information is transmitted by a mesh networking protocol. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  wherein any one of the plurality of marker devices comprises a housing adapted to physically protect the electronics contained therein from a mining activity 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the first marker device, or the second marker device, or any one of the plurality of marker devices is uniquely identifiable. 
     
     
         42 . A marker device adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal and (ii) detect the strength or direction of the electromagnetic signal emitted by a neighbouring marker device, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected electromagnetic signal directly or indirectly to a reader device. 
     
     
         43 . The marker device of  claim 42  wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio wave signal and/or the wireless transmission is by radio wave. 
     
     
         44 . The marker device of  claim 42  wherein the radio wave has a frequency of between about 10 Hz to about 30 MHz. 
     
     
         45 . The marker device of  claim 42  wherein the information is transmitted by a mesh networking protocol. 
     
     
         46 . The marker device of  claim 42  comprising a housing adapted to physically protect the electronics contained therein from a mining activity. 
     
     
         47 . A system comprising a plurality of marker devices of  claim 42  wherein most or all of the marker devices are adapted to (i) emit an electromagnetic signal and (ii) detect the strength or direction of the electromagnetic signal emitted by a neighbouring marker device, and (iii) wirelessly transmit information related to the detected electromagnetic signal directly or indirectly to a reader device. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47  wherein most or all of the marker devices are adapted to transmit the information by a mesh networking protocol. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio wave signal and/or the wireless transmission is by radio wave. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the information is transmitted by a mesh networking protocol. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 47  wherein the radio wave has a frequency of between about 10 Hz to about 30 MHz.