Tracking system set to make significant impact

摘要

The seriousness of underground mine accidents could be greatly lessened if a wireless two-way voice communications and tracking system developed by Ontario, Canada-based Active Control Technology (ACT) proves as effective as its makers hope. It is believed that the Sago coal mine disaster in West Virginia, USA earlier this year (January), which resulted in the death of 12 miners, may have been avoided had authorities been able to locate the miners sooner. Post-event investigation revealed that the group could have likely walked out of the mine had someone been able to communicate with them. According to TSX-V-listed ACT, ActiveMine has been designed to improve underground mining safety and enhance operating efficiencies through wireless, realtime electronic tracking of personnel and equipment-misplaced expensive assets such as drill bits that would otherwise be routinely replaced - and robust two-way voice communications with each miner.