Our sister company, SubsurfaceLaser Scanning, has teamed up with Tarmac to present a joint paper at this year’s ExtractiveIndustry Geology (EIG) Conference on the topic ‘Voids within quarries – how to detect, survey and manage’.

Presenting the paper on behalf of Subsurface Laser Scanning will be Director, Subsurface Laser Scanning and Senior Manager, Liam Murphy. Craig Arditto, Senior Manager Geology and Steve Curtin, Swinden Quarry Manager will be representing Tarmac.

Their presentation will address the challenges faced by quarry operators in detecting voids within quarries and, even when voids are located, how difficult it can be to fully determine their extent and nature in order to devise a practical and safe solution for their management.

They will use a recentcase study, Swinden Quarry in North Yorkshire, UK to explain what techniquesare available to proactively detect voids in quarries and how ground breaking subsurface 3D surveying technology can be used to accurately map their extent and provide a targeted solution to make them safe. This project is featured in our Case Study section, also we have included and abstract of the case study below.

Abstract…

Voids within quarries are difficult to detect and their presence can cause serious problems for quarry operators. Even when voids are found, it has been difficult to fully determine their extent and nature in order to devise a practical and safe solution for managing them. Using a recent case study, Swinden Quarry in North Yorkshire, this presentation focuses on the techniques available to proactively detect quarry voids and how new subsurface 3D surveying technology can be used to accurately map their extent and allow a targeted solution to make them safe.

Swinden Quarry exploits a carboniferous reef limestone complex complete with unpredictable karst topography. To date, most cavities encountered have been small or naturally filled with debris and so have not presented a safety issue. However, in 2011 a seemingly innocuous cavity was encountered that when probed appeared to be in the region of 28m deep. With machinery in excess of 200 tonnes traversing the quarry floor, gaining an accurate understanding of the caves geometry was essential in order to mitigate the risk it posed. This presentation summarises the review of best practice that it’s discovery triggered, the selection and performance of the chosen 3D sonar and ROV surveying techniques, through to the successful remedial measures taken to make the cave safe.

Presented by

Liam Murphy: Dip Geo Surveying, MIIS, Subsurface Laser Scanning Ltd

Craig Arditto: BSc(Hons), FGS, EurGeol, FIQ, CGeol, Tarmac Ltd

Steve Curtin: (CSA)

This year’s conferencewill take place from 5 – 8 September 2012 at EdgeHill University in the UK. The conference will cover a wide range of topics relevant to the extractive industrial minerals sector. It is a must-attend for anyone specialising in the fields of geology, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, quarry development design and planning, restoration and after use, reserve and resource estimationand reporting. Visit the EIG website for further information and details of how to book.

Subsurface LaserScanning will have a stand at the conference so make sure to call over to speakto a member of the team to learn more about their full range of services.

For furtherinformation about our sister company, Subsurface Laser Scanning Ltd, visit their website – www.subsurfacelaserscanning.com or speak to a member of the Coastway/AGEC team.