In the world of underground mining, safety isn’t just a value, it’s a necessity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Alimak raise inspections, where traditional methods expose personnel to serious risks. Climbing into recently blasted raises for visual inspection places workers in potentially unstable environments, relying on handheld tools and limited visibility to assess conditions. This process isn’t just dangerous; it’s time-consuming and often lacks the precision required for confident decision-making.
But what if there was a better way?
What if you could send a rugged, high-tech tool up the Alimak raise instead of a person? What if inspections could be performed from a safe distance, with more accuracy and faster results?
That’s the future SafeSight is delivering today.
The New Era of Alimak Raise Inspections
Imagine deploying a compact device that attaches to the existing Alimak rail and provides complete visibility inside the raise. It captures crystal-clear video, builds detailed 3D models, and puts actionable data at your fingertips, all without anyone entering a hazardous zone.
That’s the power of remote inspection. And while various tools have entered the market offering partial solutions, few matches the full capability and rugged design of SafeSight’s MRC Rail Runner.
Introducing the MRC Rail Runner: Precision Meets Safety
Built specifically for Alimak-style raises, the Rail Runner is redefining how underground teams inspect and survey post-blast environments. It’s designed to run on the rail system already in place, making it a plug-and-play solution that delivers advanced inspection capabilities without introducing new infrastructure or complexity.
Here’s what the Rail Runner can do:
- Face Inspection: Capture static HD video of the raise face to examine rock conditions and fragmentation with clarity.
- Full Rail Inspection: Record HD video along the full length of the raise, offering a complete view for maintenance or engineering review.
- LiDAR Survey: Generate a 3D digital twin of the entire raise using LiDAR, enabling precise volume calculations, deformation monitoring, and data comparison over time.
Seamless Control and Secure Data Management
Using the SafeSight App, operators can control the Rail Runner manually, adjusting its movement and inspection tools in real time. Once data is collected, it can be stored and accessed securely through SafeSight’s licensable Virtual Portal, making collaboration between teams and contractors fast and efficient. Whether you’re on-site or working remotely, the full inspection record is always within reach.
Beyond Alimak: A Versatile Inspection Platform
While optimized for Alimak raise inspection, the MRC Rail Runner is expanding its impact. With its adaptable design, it can attach to any Alimak rail system, offering a flexible inspection and survey solution for other vertical or inclined mining applications. This evolution makes the Rail Runner not just a specialized tool, but a core platform for underground insight.
Recently, SafeSight deployed the Rail Runner in a Alimak mine shaft to support a client’s need for detailed structural analysis. The Rail Runner was mobilized and run up the full length of the shaft, capturing high-definition video and generating a complete LiDAR scan. The resulting 3D model allowed engineers to assess the structural integrity, confirm clearances, and plan reinforcement measures, all without sending a single person into the shaft. The client was able to resume operations faster, armed with precise data and a higher degree of confidence in the shaft’s condition. This successful deployment highlights how the Rail Runner is shaping a new standard for remote inspections across a range of underground scenarios.
See It for Yourself at CIM 2025
The MRC Rail Runner is more than an innovation. It’s a shift in how we think about underground safety and efficiency.
Join us at CIM Connect 2025 to experience the Rail Runner up close. You’ll find SafeSight at Booth #14 of the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (Booth 1515). Come see how we’re leading the charge in safe, data-driven underground mining technology. Book a meeting with us at CIM Connect!
Learn more now at: safesightxp.com/mrc-rail-runner
