DynaMine is a global positioning system (GPS) based operator-independent truck despatch system suitable for open-cast mines. All its components have been designed to remain operational in the harsh environmental condition of mines.

	An Intel / Risc-based application-cum-database server and clients configured according to requirements.
	A GPS-based onboard instrument called Nirdeshak, developed by CMC for monitoring the vital signs of vehicles, voice / data communication and tracking the location of equipment.
	An application package developed by CMC, which is the heart of the system
	Other communication-related infrastructure like a mast, repeaters and LAN-related infrastructure

	Real-time display of mining operations
	Real-time display of instantly generated warning messages / messages sent by the operator to the control room from heavy earth moving machinery (HEMM)
	A scrolling display of critical production parameters in real-time
	Activates voice communication with HEMM operators
	Production / availability / utilisation / status details of any HEMM in real-time, on double-clicking the icon of the particular HEMM

	Dynamic allocation of trucks to excavators
	Opens and closes various dumps
	Displays equipment and operator performance as well as various critical production parameters in real-time on client machines, and also on large displays installed at the mines office

	Edits and updates mine map, based on data from mine planning software or from surveying instruments
	Defines blasting zones with blast timings, to generate automatic warning messages in real-time, in case of any HEMM entering the area during those times
	Defines and edits profile of dump-points
	Replays the past movement of any particular HEMM, in a user-selected time period, with user-controllable speeds for analysis

	Records breakdown details of HEMMs
	Records the preventive maintenance activities of HEMMs
	Maintans a breakdown history of HEMMs, to help in breakdown analysis
	Automatically generates a preventive maintenance schedule for HEMMs
	Monitors critical components of HEMMs, through its interface with the vital signs monitoring system

	Administers radio communications between the server and HEMMs
	Configures communication parameters for voice communications with HEMMs
	Configures communication parameters for data communication with HEMMs
	Configures parameters for the vital signs monitoring hardware
	Real-time display of the status of critical communication equipment like network controllers, communication servers, terminal servers, etc.
	Configures Nirdeshak, network controllers and terminal servers
	Receives and displays status-related data from network controllers and terminal servers
	Creates and maintains users' access rights to various modules and menus

	Employee attendance Smart cards Bar-code cards Biometric sensors
	Automatic operator-to-equipment allocation, based on skills, preferences and priorities

	Achieved production
	Attendance reports
	Allocation reports
	Equipment availability and utilisation reports
	Breakdown analysis reports, etc.

	Positional interpreter analyses HEMM position and status continuously to take dynamic allocation decisions and generate critical warning messages
	Generates real-time data for feeding to the IVRS server for queries about the production data and equipment status on phone through the interactive voice response system
	Manages to and fro communication with Nirdeshak units fitted in HEMMs
	Manages user connections from client machines

	Client-server application
	Database: Oracle
	Operating system: SCO-UnixWare/ UNIX / LINUX / SOLARIS 7.1.1
	Servers: Pentium Xeon dual CPU servers with SCO-Compaq non-stop clustering with RAID 5/ RISC
	Windows-based clients
	Front-end application developed using a combination of PowerBuilder / Visual C++
	Web-enabled applications
	Radio communication infrastructure

	Increase in availability, utilisation and productivity of HEMMs
	If used properly, the payback period for the investment can be less than a year, for many open-cast mines
	Online capture and display of moving and non-moving HEMMs on a mine map with query on performance and health parameters
	Online capture of status of equipment like loading, empty travel, loaded travel, dumping and speed, without any operator intervention
	Online capture of breakdown and other vital health parameters from the vital signs monitoring system (VSMS) on the dashboard of the equipment
	Online generation of valuable information and reports on achieved production, quality, equipment utilisation, operator-wise production and breakdown hours, etc.
	Online capture of crew attendance and their allocation to equipment, guided by skill-matrix and practices
	Making information on equipment performance available through interactive voice response (IVRS)
	Data and voice communication between operators and supervisors for efficient monitoring
	Online generation of exceptions to users, helping in production / safety monitoring, enabling breakdown maintenance without any loss of time
	Replay of equipment movement and performance for any given duration
	Automatic route optimisation and instructions to dumper operators for maximising productivity with quality control for every dumper cycle

	Increase in utilisation by: Real-time display and monitoring of the entire mining operations Instantaneous generation of alarms for stationary dumpers Allocation report Automatic attendance recording and allocation of equipment to the operators, thereby: Reducing time lost at the start of the shift Reducing time lost in tea breaks Reducing time lost at the end of the shift
	Increase in availability by: Instantaneous messaging and alarm on HEMM breakdown Online monitoring of critical parameters through VSMS Online generation of preventive maintenance schedules guided by real-time hour-meter readings Online analysis of breakdown history Online reporting of system-generated figures on availability and utilisation of HEMMs
	Increase in productivity by dynamic route optimisation: Reduction in idling of shovels Reduction in queuing of dumpers Less time lost in re-allocation of dumpers, in case of shovel breakdown, through automatic re-allocation Instantaneous re-setting of priorities guided by production targets Effective management of operators' performance data Health monitoring of equipment helps to increase the average life of the equipment Communication infrastructure helps to reduce equipment down-time Aids in safety measures, thereby improving the quality of life Ensures transparency in information sharing Makes vital information available online, even in homes, through IVRS Workforce gets motivated, leading to an increase in the productivity of valuable human resources Ease of monitoring and co-ordination

The Northern Coalfields Ltd (NCL) mine management has recorded an overall increase of seven per cent in the productivity of capital-intensive mining equipment like excavators and trucks. NCL is planning to extend this system to other open-cast coal mines under its control. This gain can be further improved by more intensive use in future. The payback period for this system is found to be less than a year, when it is properly used.

Current client list

	Jayant Opencast Mines, Northern Coalfields Limited
	Ramagundam OC III Mines, Singareni Collieries Ltd, Andhra Pradesh

Indicative client list

Truck despatch system South-Eastern Coalfields Ltd, Gevra open-cast coal mine (operator-dependent)

Case study
Jayant open-cast coal mine, Northern Coalfields Ltd

Contact
Head - Mining
CMC Limited
28, Camac Street
Kolkata – 700 016
Tel: 91-33 - 22874845
Fax: 91-33 - 22878058
Email: mining@cmcltd.com