Mining companies are facing an array of new challenges. Environmental, social and governance policies demand an increased focus on sustainable mining, and the depletion of near surface orebodies is plunging production to greater depths and lower cut-off grades.

Deeper mines increase seismicity hazards, adding more complexity to maintaining production rates and infrastructure condition throughout the mine. The result is a need for more and detailed inspections, which paradoxically increase worker exposure to hazards.

Remote sensing technologies are already  used  in  exploration  and  mining.  Traditional above-ground survey depends on GNSS connectivity for operation and georeferencing. But underground operations   require   scanning   solutions   that   can   operate   in   harsh, GPS-denied   environments. Autonomous mapping systems, such as the Emesent Hovermap, solve hazardous inspections by removing personnel from high-risk areas while capturing data of a quality never seen before. The high-level  of geotechnical   and   geological   detail   informs  data-based  decision-making,  helping technical services teams reduce mining costs and safety risks.