As the mining industry faces increasing pressure to align with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), the role of geotechnical monitoring has never been more critical. In a recent feature by Creamer Media’s Engineering News and Mining Weekly, Terra Monitoring highlights how sophisticated instrumentation is transforming Tailings Storage Facility (TSF) safety from a reactive process into a proactive science.
Terra Monitoring Operations Manager Schalk Prinsloo explains that by integrating tools like vibrating wire piezometers and inclinometers, mines can track key stability indicators—such as pore water pressure and lateral movement—in near-real-time. These systems are essential for:
Early Risk Detection: Identifying seepage and deformation before they lead to structural failure.
Operational Precision: Guiding “Engineer-of-Record” requirements and Trigger Action Response Plans (TARPs).
Overcoming Infrastructure Hurdles: Navigating the unique challenges of remote African sites, from connectivity gaps to environmental durability.
Despite the hurdles of remote locations and evolving regulations, the shift toward automated telemetry is setting a new benchmark for facility health and compliance.