Tunnels are rugged environments with large moving equipment, explosives and hazards including water, dust and gas. There are few OSHA compliant underground communication and tracking systems available for tunnel use.
After the 2006 Sago Mine disaster, research and development improved communication systems for the underground environment. Today, more than 250 US mines utilize these new technologies to improve productivity, reduce costs and enhance safety.
IWT Applications Engineer, Jason Jarrett, explores these new technologies and provides guidance for planners through the process of selecting a tunnel communication solution. The 15-page whitepaper reviews the key requirements and constraints for consideration, and provides an overview of various communication and networking technologies and discusses their strengths and weaknesses.
