LAS VEGAS, NV – Sept. 13, 2021: Today’s modern mining industry is safer, more efficient, and more cost-effective, due in large part to innovation and the adoption of new technologies. NSS Canada’s MOSS (Miner Operated Survey System) checks off all of these categories. Today at MINExpo in Las Vegas, Nevada, NSS Canada provided a glimpse into the future, unveiling new augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) features for its proprietary MOSS system, now in use at mines around the globe.
The Miner Operated Survey System is user-friendly underground surveying software that integrates mine design specifications and drawings, ensuring greater accuracy when completing markups for a blast (a.k.a. round), providing real-time information to miners, engineers and geologists. MOSS is used to show where all drill holes will be located on the face, and creates the most efficient drill hole layout specific to the size of the drift, and rock type.
“As with everything underground, we are experiencing a shift away from traditional methodologies,” says NSS Canada president Bruno Lalonde. “With the new MOSS AR functionality, a miner puts on the goggles, and sees exactly how the round will behave, based on the inputs, in real time. Ultimately, this will be connected to a jumbo drill’s machine control. There’s no more guess work.”
Lalonde also notes that in the global mining space, the VR feature allows for training on MOSS to happen virtually.
“This work was already underway as everyone seeks to remain in front of mining’s tech shifts. But the pandemic provided the impetus to speed things up in this regard,” affirms Lalonde. “While having staff on site for initial training is still ideal, we needed to be able to react to current realities in the global marketplace. It also allows us to provide refresher training remotely."
An investment in MOSS is an investment in safety, efficiency, and worker morale and engagement. MOSS is already proving itself with workers who enjoy using the system because it makes their lives safer, easier, and decreases cycle time. It is also proven to save mining companies millions of dollars with a very quick return on investment.
“MOSS was already the future for surveying in the mining industry, and the obvious choice for surveying technology,” states Lalonde. “We’ve taken it a step further and are incredibly proud to be at MINExpo to demonstrate that Sudbury companies remain on the cutting edge of world-class, leading technology.”
About NSS Canada
Since 1989, NSS Canada (Northern Survey Supply) has been successfully integrating technology to increase safety, accuracy, and efficiency. As an authorized Leica reseller, NSS Canada sells Global Satellite Navigation Systems (GNSS), Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Total Stations, GeoMos Automatic Deformation Monitoring Systems, High Definition (HDS) Laser Scanners, SmartNet RTK Corrections and a full line of Machine Control construction positioning products for excavating, grading and paving applications. We provide repair services for all Leica optical surveying and electronic equipment in addition to rentals and training for a variety of Leica Total Stations and GPS Systems.
