At 14:07 on June 20, 2024, red alert signals were triggered by monitoring stations deployed on the southern slope of Maodi Open-Pit Mine in Tongling City, Anhui Province, indicating imminent landslide risks. Upon receiving the warning, mine safety managers immediately organized emergency response teams to verify deformation data and implement contingency protocols, successfully evacuating all personnel from danger zones. This successful early warning and evacuation was made possible by the open-pit mine slope safety monitoring system constructed by Ruhr.

[Image: Landslide Site]

Mine safety remains paramount in China's industrial safety landscape. On February 22, 2023, a catastrophic slope collapse occurred at Xinjing Coal Industry's open-pit mine in Alxa Left Banner, Inner Mongolia, where 10 million cubic meters of earth collapsed, resulting in casualties and missing personnel. This tragedy underscores the critical challenges facing slope safety management in open-pit mining operations.

[Image: February 22 Alxa Mining Disaster Site]

Industry experts emphasize that slope stability constitutes the most critical safety concern in open-pit mining. As mining operations extend over time with increasing excavation depths, the expanding dimensions of mine slopes progressively compromise structural integrity, elevating risks of geological hazards including landslides and rockfalls. Concurrent challenges include non-compliant operational practices and insufficient intelligent monitoring implementation, both contributing to heightened accident risks. These factors necessitate urgent adoption of intelligent monitoring solutions to enhance slope safety management - a pivotal challenge requiring immediate industry-wide resolution.

01 Policy Directives: Urgent Mine Safety Overhaul Imperative

• On March 9, 2022, Zhejiang Provincial Department of Emergency Management issued Guidelines on Strengthening Slope Risk Control in Open-Pit Mines to Prevent Collapse Accidents (ZJ Emergency Basic [2022] No. 24)

• On December 16, 2022, National Mine Safety Administration released Safety Risk Classification and Supervision Measures for Non-Coal Mines (Mine Safety [2023] No. 1), explicitly mandating the installation of:

• ‍‍Underground mines: Hoisting systems, ventilation systems, drainage systems, power supply & fire prevention systems, compressed air systems, communication networks, monitoring & control systems, personnel positioning systems

• Open-pit mines: Drilling equipment, loading machinery, haulage vehicles, drainage facilities, ventilation installations, power distribution systems, slope stability monitoring systems

•  Tailings ponds: Dam drainage systems, online safety monitoring system‍‍

•  On February 27, 2023, National Mine Safety Administration issued Notice on Open-Pit Mine Safety Production Special Rectification (Mine Safety [2023] No. 16), requiring:
  Comprehensive risk assessment of open-pit mines targeting major hazard elimination and catastrophic accident prevention, with prioritized safety inspections for critical mining operations.‍

02 Technological Innovation Forging New Methods in Mine Slope Monitoring

In compliance with Technical Specifications for Safety Monitoring of High-Steep Slopes in Metal and Nonmetal Open-Pit Mines (AQ/T 2063-2018), Ruhr integrates IoT and AI technologies with multi-sensor monitoring devices—including vision-based systems, radar arrays, BeiDou positioning modules, accelerometer clusters, and piezoelectric sensors—to establish an intelligent slope monitoring system for open-pit mines. This system enables long-term, multi-dimensional, and multi-factor safety management by tracking critical parameters such as surface displacement, rainfall levels, vibration acceleration, and video surveillance. Real-time data synchronization with intelligent management platforms facilitates analytical decision-making for operational personnel.

Machine Vision-Based Non-Contact Deformation Monitoring Technology
Representative Device: Visual Deformation Meter

The Visual Deformation Meter integrates video capture, computational analysis, and communication functions. By automatically capturing natural feature points on slope surfaces, it enables real-time monitoring of displacement, settlement, tilt, and other structural parameters for slopes and supporting structures. Multi-modal modeling and analysis of collected data identifies critical risk zones. This non-contact device monitors multiple targets simultaneously to detect deformation and displacement risks in mine slopes, ensuring comprehensive safety oversight.

Technical Specifications:

· High Precision: 0.2mm accuracy at 50m

· Adjustable Sampling Rate: Standard 1Hz, configurable up to 120Hz

· Robust Algorithms: Resists heat waves, occlusions, and nighttime interference

· Stable Operation: Multi-layer fault protection ensures unmanned reliability

· Remote Upgrades: Supports online configuration and firmware updates

Frequency-Modulated Continuous Wave Radar for Long-Range Deformation Monitoring
Representative Device: MIMO Slope Stability Monitoring Radar

The MIMO Slope Stability Monitoring Radar employs FMCW radar technology with multi-transmitter multi-receiver (MIMO) imaging and differential interferometry, achieving high-resolution imaging and submillimeter deformation measurement accuracy. Designed for expansive open-pit mines with complex geological conditions, this all-solid-state system performs wide-angle, non-contact, high-precision monitoring of minute slope deformations.

Key Features:

· Rapid High-Precision Detection: Real-time deformation updates with kilometer-range measurement capability

· Portable Deployment: Compact design (<15kg) with integrated emergency power supply for rapid field installation

· Self-Healing Intelligence: Automated system diagnostics, status reporting, and connection recovery

· Smart Alert System: Automatic hazard localization with customizable threshold configurations

· Multi-Channel Connectivity: Supports 4G/WiFi/cable interfaces including 100Mbps Ethernet

BeiDou-Based Surface Displacement Monitoring Technology
Representative Device: BeiDou GNSS Monitoring Unit

Compliant with Technical Specifications for Safety Monitoring of High-Steep Slopes in Metal and Nonmetal Open-Pit Mines (AQ/T 2063-2018), this integrated GNSS solution monitors surface displacement at ≤100m horizontal and ≤50m vertical intervals. The system provides real-time deformation data analysis, enabling precise slope stability assessment and early evacuation alerts.

Technical Advantages:

· Submillimeter Accuracy: Measures displacement, acceleration, and tilt with 0.1mm resolution

· Adaptive Connectivity: 4G/WiFi/NB-IoT/Bluetooth compatibility

· Energy-Efficient Design: <1.5W power consumption with timed sleep modes; 35-hour battery backup

· Remote Management: Supports configuration, diagnostics, and GPS tracking via cloud platform

· Streamlined Installation: All-in-one design with simplified calibration procedures

Piezoelectric Rainfall Monitoring Technology
Representative Device: Piezoelectric Rain Gauge

As rainfall constitutes a primary trigger for geological hazards in mine slopes, precise precipitation monitoring proves critical for preventing landslides and collapses. Typically deployed in open mining areas, this device continuously collects and analyzes rainfall data through piezoelectric sensing technology, enabling early warnings against extreme precipitation-induced disasters to safeguard personnel and assets.

Core Features:

· Dual Monitoring Modes: Real-time rainfall intensity tracking & cumulative precipitation measurement

· Autonomous Operation: Offline monitoring capability with self-diagnostics and mobile-app configuration via QR code scanning

· Sustained Power: Integrated high-capacity lithium battery (5-year lifespan) with solar charging support

· Smart Alerts: Customizable threshold-triggered alerts with tiered response protocols

· Rapid Deployment: Multiple mounting options for full-scenario adaptability

Multi-Parameter Integrated Monitoring Technology
Representative Device: Multi-Function Monitoring Instrument

Deployed at critical landslide-prone locations on mine slopes, this device supplements visual deformation meters and GNSS systems by anchoring onto unstable rock masses. It monitors safety parameters including acceleration, directional displacement, azimuth angles, and positional data, enabling real-time hazard alerts for prompt evacuation.

Flexible Configuration: Supports customizable monitoring of three parameters (acceleration, tilt, crack detection)
Extended Service Life: Built-in high-capacity lithium-thionyl chloride battery with 5-year operational lifespan
Intelligent Management: Features offline data storage with delayed reporting, self-diagnostics, remote configuration/upgrades, and mobile QR code configuration capabilities

Open-Pit Mine Slope Safety Monitoring Platform: Full Lifecycle Management

Ruhr integrates GIS technology, cloud computing, big data, and IoT solutions to consolidate mine monitoring data resources. By establishing a mine hazard database and developing risk warning models with advanced monitoring systems, we deliver a standardized, intelligent, and automated operational platform for comprehensive slope safety management. This system enables lifecycle monitoring while advancing the standardization of risk early-warning mechanisms, ensuring robust protection for mine slope integrity.

[Image: Open-Pit Mine Slope Safety Monitoring Platform]

03 Precision Diagnostics Safeguarding Mine Production Safety

Ruhr's open-pit mine slope safety monitoring solution aligns with national regulations and operational demands, establishing digital management systems that innovate supervision models and enhance operational efficiency. Currently deployed nationwide, this lifecycle monitoring approach ensures comprehensive safety assurance for mining enterprises.

Case Study: Tongling Maodi Open-Pit Mine Slope Monitoring Project

Responding to stability evaluations indicating "marginally stable to unstable conditions" on the mine's southern slope, Ruhr deployed a sensor network including Visual Deformation Meters, BeiDou GNSS units, Piezoelectric Rain Gauges, and Multi-Function Monitoring Instrumnts. This system conducts real-time tracking of surface displacement, rainfall, vibration acceleration, and video surveillance.

In June 2024, red alerts from southern slope monitoring stations detected imminent landslide risks. Mine operators promptly evacuated personnel, preventing casualties and economic losses.

[Image: Tongling Maodi Open-Pit Mine Slope Monitoring Project]

[Image: System-detected slope deformation indicating landslide risks]

Case Study: Tuff Mine Slope Monitoring Project
Located 9km northeast (206° azimuth) of an urban area, this tuff mine produces 2 million tons/year of construction-grade tuff. Multiple unstable slope zones threaten infrastructure (industrial zones, guard posts) and personnel safety. Ruhr deployed a sensor network including Visual Deformation Meters, MIMO Slope Stability Monitoring Radar, BeiDou GNSS Monitoring Units, Piezoelectric Rain Gauges, and Multi-Function Monitoring Instruments. This system enables real-time monitoring of rainfall, deformation, and displacement, ensuring safety for slope-adjacent facilities and workers.

[Image: Tuff Mine Slope Monitoring Project]

Case Study:  Construction Tuff Mine Slope Monitoring Project
Situated 19km northwest (31° azimuth) of a city center, this mine produces 116,730 cubic meters/year of construction tuff. The final slope design features 140m elevation differentials with existing terraces at +340m, +360m, and +380m levels. Bench heights range 19–21m with slope angles of 55–60°, complemented by thick-layer substrate spraying for ecological restoration. In compliance with Zhejiang Provincial Guidelines for Strengthening Open-Pit Mine Slope Risk Control (ZJ Emergency Basic [2022] No. 24), Ruhr implemented Visual Deformation Meters, MIMO Radar, BeiDou GNSS Units, and Piezoelectric Rain Gauges for real-time displacement monitoring, ensuring slope integrity.

[Image: Construction Tuff Mine Slope Monitoring Project]