Abstract
Underground mining projects generally follow, as an industry best practice, standardized geotechnical data collection requirements, defining both the type and quantity of data collection appropriate for the various stages of project advance. Upon transition from project evaluation stages to construction or operation stages, geotechnical data collection programs and site characterization efforts vary significantly between operations; often becoming less structured and resourced. This is problematic, whereby ongoing data collection is critical to: 1) improved understanding of site geotechnical conditions; 2) verification of design conclusions achieved during project feasibility studies, and; 3) optimization for life of mine designs. Some mine operators have internal guidance on appropriate levels of data collection throughout the life of mine, however there are no established industry standards to guide ground control practitioners and mine management. This work proposes to define appropriate levels of geotechnical data collection throughout the life of an underground mine, including guidance for management towards appropriate levels of resources assigned to data collection, with the goal of achieving maximum value from the data collection and reduce geotechnical risks to operations.