H.

Grobler
HOD Mine Surveying – Univ. Of Johannesburg
Chairman: Education Committee - IMSSA
Content

 GISSA

 ISM

 Role of surveyor

 Commonality
GISSA Definition

“The Geo-Information Society of South Africa (GISSA) herein after
referred to as the “Society” :

 “Geo-Information embodies the science and technology of collection,

measuring, processing, analysing, interpreting, disseminating,
utilising, evaluating, managing and displaying geographically-related
and spatially-referenced information. “

http://www.gissa.org.za/about-us/constitution/GISSA%20National%20Constitution%202008.pdf/view
Mine Surveying Definition

 Mine surveying is a branch of mining science and technology. It includes
all measurements, calculations and mapping which serve the purpose of
ascertaining and documenting information at all stages from
prospecting to exploitation and utilizing mineral deposits both by surface
and underground working.

The following are the principal activities of mine surveying:

 The interpretation of the geology of mineral deposits in relation to
the economic exploitation thereof.
 The investigation and negotiation of mineral mining rights. Making
and recording, and calculations of mine surveying measurements.
 Mining cartography.
 Investigation and prediction of the effects of mine working on the
surface and underground strata.
 Mine planning in the context of the local environment and
subsequent rehabilitation.

http://www.ism.rwth-aachen.de/index.php/about-ism/statutes
 Surveying

“Measurement owes its existence to Earth,
Estimation of quantity to measurement,
calculation to estimation of quantity,
balancing of chances to calculation
and victory to balancing of chances.”

The Art of War, Sun Tsu (403–221 BC),

Information  Intelligence

The Mine Surveyor is to provide detailed, up to date and

relevant information that can be used for estimation,
planning and verifying the extraction of mineral
reserves in a profitable manner
ROLE OF THE MINE SURVEYOR
(Medieval Europe)

Agricola (1556) first recorded the role of the

mine surveyor:
 Lease surveys “may not encroach
on…other…possessions”
 Disputes “The surveyor…settles the
dispute”
 Solving triangles “surveying…measuring
of triangles”
 Engineering surveys “…tunnel is being
driven towards…”
 Area calculations “owners … to know
how many fathoms…”
 Mine economics “calculate the
expenditure”

6
IMSCON 2007 Fred Cawood and Wally Richards
RULES AND PRINCIPLES AFFECTING MINE
SURVEY PRACTICES TODAY
Qualifications for appointment (CoC, B.Tech)

Laws and Regulations (MHSA, MPRDA,

MTRA)
Professional registration (PLATO)
National & international standards
(SAMREC, IVSC)
“The role of the mine surveyor in South Africa traditionally has
been dominated by legal, and not business, requirements “

7
IMSCON 2007 Fred Cawood and Wally Richards
An 8th Grader’s Perception

“A Surveyor is something that grubs around in the woods looking for

little sticks and stones. When he finds them, he does some kind of
weird dance around them with a funny looking 3-leg crutch which he
leans on and looks at. When he doesn't find them he walks around all
day like he's lost… He curses terribly. He can't read because he
measures between things and then puts down a number in a little
book, which is different from what his little map says….People stare at
him, dogs chase him and he always looks worn out. I don't know why
anyone wants to be a surveyor.”

From: The Canadian Surveyor, No.5, December 1970

(Grade 8 Essay quoted in The Massachusetts Surveyor)
Responsibilities
 MHSA responsibility

 17(2)(a) “The employer must appoint a competent person to be in charge of surveying, mapping and mine
plans at the mine, ….”
 Preparation of underground and surface statutory mine plans,
 Mine boundaries; surface protection and preparation of plans for undermining permissions;

 SAMREC/SAMVAL code
 Competent person (PLATO) – Ore Reserve estimation

 Engineering Surveys
 Spatial control and “Setting-out” of works
 Topography, Areas and Volumes
 Forensic surveying

 Mine Planning
 Layouts
 Paylimit(s)
 Life of mine

 Mine Valuation
 Mine sampling, Grade control

 Reconciliation
 Stocks, MCF, PCF, Block Factor, ORMF
 

Footer 10
Requirements for the future

“The role of the mine surveyor has been principally driven by legal
requirements. In the mean time, the business has changed. This
change requires significant adjustment of the role of the mine
surveyor – essentially, to grow from a compliance mindset to
support the key business drivers of the company, which
includes but is not dominated by mine health and safety…”

Role of the coal mine surveyor, Cawood & Richards

Safety Precautions

Safety Precautions


http://www.creativecircle.co.za/awards/adofthemonth/Print/March/2013
Mining Value Chain
Locate
Stope

Equip
Sweep Evaluate
Ledge
Transport

Develop Treat Ore body Model

Mine Customer
MINERAL
RESOURCES
MINERAL
RESERVES
Inferred Probable
Indicated
Proved
Measured
Production
Plan
Establish
Predicted Reconcile
Tons
grade

Design Statistical &

Modifying Financial
Risk Factors Analysis
 Modifying Factors

Ore Reserve estimation process., Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve Estimation, The AusIMM guide to good practice, Monograph 23
 

Footer 16
 Geology Resource and Reserve
Rock stress
Tunnel dimensions 
Support

Compressed Air
Water

Ventilation Flow

Electricity

Tonnage

Men and Material



 University of Johannesburg

Y Co-ordinate
Y Co-ordinate

Y Co-ordinate

Y Co-ordinate
JOHN ORR SHAFT
GENERAL SURFACE PLAN
Gauteng district
Plan constructed as part of the requirements for the Practical component
EL440-2 of the National Diploma: Mine Survey 1000.5m
X Co-ordinate X Co-ordinate
UJ14/18/2/2010 /Student Number Water 1001.0m
Date submitted P P
SURVEY

Tank
SURVEY

1001.5m P
F
E
PEG

PEG +1 000.497m
+1000.828m
X Co-ordinate
SURVEY
P X Co-ordinate
D PEG
1002.0m
Triangulation point
+1 001.797m
B
+1 001.797m
Scale 1 : 200
Drawn according to the 3rd Schedule
Description of Co-ordinate System: X Co-ordinate X Co-ordinate
Local Ordinate 29°E WGS 84 System and Datum Plane
1002.5m
1000.5m

Constants:
Y +30 000.000 X +2 890 000.000

Description of Benchmark:
Benchmark
A brass stud in the foundation of Main Office Building
Co-ordinates of Benchmark: A +1 002.387m

1002.5m
Y +30 000.000 X +2 890 000.000 1003.0m
Elevation: +1 828,797m X Co-ordinate +1 002.797m X Co-ordinate
Legend of Features not described: TRIG 345
Traverse point
SURVEY

Tree PEG SURVEY

Permissions and Exemptions: +1 003.697m

None C PEG

Resection point
SURVEY
Co-ord Co-ord
Key Plan
Co-ord Co-ord
Scale 1 : 5 000
X Co-ordinate +1 002.500m X Co-ordinate
Co-ord
Co-ord
PEG
H
Co-ord
+1 001.697m
Co-ord
Co-ord
Co-ord

Co-ord
Co-ord

SURVEY

Y Co-ordinate
Y Co-ordinate

Y Co-ordinate

Y Co-ordinate
Co-ord

1001.5m
Signature Block:
I hereby declare that this plan and the calculations used to construct this
PEG
G
plan is entirely my own work. +1 000.8m
Student Name / Student number / Signature
Mentor Name / Signature 1001.0m
Requirements for the future

“The role of the mine surveyor has been principally driven by
legal requirements. In the mean time, the business has
changed. This change requires significant adjustment of
the role of the mine surveyor – essentially, to grow from a
compliance mindset to support the key business drivers
of the company, which includes but is not dominated by mine
health and safety…”

Role of the coal mine surveyor, Cawood & Richards

Common Ground?

 A great need to integrate information:
 Geology
 Strata
 Features
 Resource and Reserve

 Mine Planning
 Rock Engineering
 Ventilation
 Survey (spatial)
 Volumetric
 Reconciliation of Mine Plan  Actual material recovered
Industry requirements from Education

 Sufficient supply of excellently qualified surveyors to meet demands of
industry
 Demand for competent, Multi-skilled individual with excellent “core-skills”
“the universities now have to produce engineers that will be able to handle the technical
challenges of the future…. mines will be deeper,…Not only will there be natural
hazards such as high rock stress and temperature to contend with, there will be
severe organizational challenges”
van der Merwe J.N., Future of the South African mining industry and the roles of the SAIMM and
the Universities, 2011
 Require a degree for further advancement
 Poor correlation between GCC exam results and academic “throughput”
 Demand for students that “can do the job” immediately after graduating –
is this a REALISTIC expectation ?
 Practical reduced to 1 year
 Requires more practical exposure over a LONGER period to become
competent
 Must have proper guidance and control by a proper, appointed mentor
 Requires an investment of TIME into new surveyors in order to ensure
competence
 NQF Doctoral degree
Level 10
Planned Qualification Routes (PhD)

NQF
Masters degree
Level 9

Professional
Certificate Route Diploma Route
Degree Route
NQF Honours degree
Level 8

NQF

Postgraduate Diploma
1 year

Level 7
Bachelors degree
NQF
Advanced Certificate 3 years
Level 6
360 credits
NQF
Higher Certificate
Level 5

NQF
Level 4 Junior? Grade 12 with Mathematics and Science
Certificate
Mathematics literacy is not acceptable. Admission will depend on levels of
(MQA) grades
Questions?

References

Websites:
 http://www.gissa.org.za/about-
us/constitution/GISSA%20National%20Constitution%202008.pdf/view

 http://www.ism.rwth-aachen.de/index.php/about-ism/statutes

 http://www.creativecircle.co.za/awards/adofthemonth/Print/March/2013

Other:
 Mine Health and Safety Act No 29 0f 1996 Gazetted May 2011