Published in the March 2008 Coal USA Magazine

“SubterraMine is a productivity and mine-safety communication solution to track, monitor and communicate with miners and equipment underground and above ground,” said SWS president Kevin Dickey. “Utilizing the IEEE 802.11 wireless technology, SubterraMine is built on true wireless mesh networks to provide real-time, two-way voice and data communications.”

The system itself comprises three primary components: the Subterra-M8s (“mates”), Subterra-ZAPs and Subterra-VU. The Subterra-M8s are the 802.11-based Wi-Fi devices that are provided as VoIP phones (M8-V), PDAs (M8-P), texting devices (M8-T) and Wi-Fi tags (M8-C), offering operators the ability to select a device based on their employee needs.

The Subterra-ZAPs, or Zone Access Points, create the mesh network infrastructure. These decentralized points, powered with an integrated 96-hour battery back-up, have the capability to process incoming and outgoing data via a low-power, multi-hop network.

“If a path stops working due to hardware failure or interference, the mesh network automatically reroutes packets through an alternate path,” Dickey said.

The final piece is Subterra-VU, the system’s enterprise software developed to help the operator manage activity through real-time tracking and map data. This management can be done at the mine level or from anywhere with an internet connection.

“SubterraMine’s software and hardware components operate together to form an interconnected safety net that allows you to stay in touch with miners, manage hazards, and dispatch rescue workers to the last known location if an incident should occur,” said Dickey.

“SubterraMine’s scalability and flexibility features make it ideal for deployment in all mine sizes, including larger mines that support multiple levels and sites [while its] redundant communication features make the system highly reliable and efficient in the harsh mining operating environment.”

Of the system’s advantages, perhaps the most significant is that SWS is the owner and developer. All of the device design as well as firmware and software has been compiled by the company from the ground up, and Dickey said the company wants to work with customers to design a system that possesses the features that are important to them in the most expeditious way it can while providing faster customer support and a broad knowledge of its own products.

“Most, if not all, of SubterraCom’s competition are either integrators or are involved in other mining-related businesses,” Dickey pointed out. “Mine-safety and productivity solution is our only business.

“By focusing on mine-safety and productivity solutions, it gives us the ability to deploy our resources to meet customers’ requests and be a leader in introducing new features to the marketplace faster.”

Additionally, he said, SubterraMine is one system that supports all of a mine’s needs, from the voice, data/messages and tag devices that move through it on a daily basis. Multiple system deployment is not necessary, and the system is more economical because of customized device sharing.

The system also employs real-time connectivity and scalability, so even the largest mine and sets of transaction are handled easily, and Dickey noted its reliability allows for multiple path creation in case of node failure. “[There’s also] utilization of reliable data communication protocols and an extensive data repository transaction redundancy,” he said.

SubterraMine uses IEEE 802.11 standards, which can be upgraded to the latest technology as it evolves. This feature allows for lower-cost components that are reflected in a more economic choice for clients, and the system eliminates the need for a company to invest in an expensive, labor-intensive, wire-based infrastructure.

Once in place, Dickey said mines will find its capabilities are broad. With a dynamic operational map and layout feature, an operation can upload its map into the Subterra-VU system, superimpose the movement of workers over that actual map, divide it into sections to view several areas simultaneously and zoom in and out as needed.

“What makes SubterraCom unique in the mine-safety solution space is its well-rounded and blended team of professionals,” Dickey said of the company’s mix of experts.

“The team’s extensive knowledge in building world-class organizations and the development of leading-edge mining, wireless and telecommunications solutions provides SubterraCom with the vision and dedication necessary to address customers’ needs."