Description
The mining industry continues to systematically assess and address safety risks associated with geotechnical instability, rock mass response, and tailings storage facility (TSF) performance. While monitoring technologies have advanced, many systems remain spatially limited, reactive in nature, or difficult to integrate into proactive risk management frameworks. Distributed Fibre Optic Sensing (DFOS) represents an emerging monitoring approach with the potential to materially enhance mine safety by providing continuous, spatially distributed measurements over large areas and long timeframes.
This paper introduces DFOS technology in the context of mine safety, focusing on its capabilities for geotechnical monitoring, rock mass response assessment, and tailings dam surveillance. DFOS systems leverage standard fibre optic cables as sensors to measure strain, temperature, and acoustic signals at metre‑scale resolution over tens of kilometres. These capabilities enable early detection of deformation, stress redistribution, seismic activity, and thermal anomalies that may precede hazardous events such as rockbursts, slope failures, ground falls, seepage or TSF instability.
Key safetyfocused applications are discussed through some case studies and examples, including underground real-time rock mass behaviour monitoring, identification of evolving deformation patterns, and continuous condition monitoring of tailings embankments and foundations. The paper highlights how DFOS can complement existing instrumentation by improving spatial coverage, reducing reliance on discrete sensors, and enabling centralized and near-real-time situational awareness. Emphasis is placed on how these data streams can support proactive decision making, trigger based responses, and improved risk communication across technical and operational teams.
The paper also touches on the importance of collaborative partnership with mine operators, consultants, and researchers to further develop DFOS based solutions tailored specifically to mining safety challenges. The paper outlines a framework for co-development and field trials aimed at validating DFOS performance, integration pathways, and decision support value in operational mining environments.
By articulating the safetyd riven potential of DFOS and identifying pathways for collaborative implementation, this paper seeks to contribute to the discussion on how emerging sensing technologies can support safer, more resilient mining operations.