Hidden Conflicts
Utility relocation, ventilation changes, wall remediation, back scaling, corner modification, and clearance work can severely impact project economics.
CLEARANCE MAPPINGMOBILE LIDAR DEPLOYMENT
UNDERGROUND RAMP SCANNING 01
Underground Ramp Scanning
Know the Clearance Before the Equipment Arrives.
SafeSight captures continuous 3D geometry across underground mine ramps to support equipment clearance, as-built documentation, infrastructure planning and long-route mine mapping.
The objective is simple:Scan the ramp once, then use the resulting geometry to understand where larger equipment, services or infrastructure may conflict with the actual underground envelope.
Continuous Route Capture.
CONTINUOUS 3D ROUTE
Document the ramp network
CLEARANCE ENVELOPE
Measure equipment space
HEAT MAP
Identify interference areas
AS-BUILT RECORD
Capture actual ramp geometry
01 Clearance constraints
A Bigger Truck Only Creates Value If It Can Move Through the Mine.
Increasing underground equipment size can improve capacity. But the business case changes if the new machine requires:
THE CLEARANCE PROBLEMMORE CAPACITY ABOVE GROUND CAN CREATE MORE WORK UNDERGROUND IF THE ROUTE WAS NEVER MEASURED.
Identify Constraints Early
A complete ramp scan allows those constraints to be identified before equipment arrives underground, avoiding unexpected downtime.
02 Spatial planning process
Scan the Route. Test the Equipment. Plan the Remediation.
01
Scan
Capture continuous 3D ramp geometry using the mobile configuration suited to the route.
02
Compare
Overlay equipment dimensions and required tolerances against the captured underground envelope.
03
Plan
Identify potential interference areas and use the resulting data to support remediation planning before equipment deployment.
03 Equipment fit analysis
Turn Ramp Geometry Into a Clearance Heat Map.
SafeSight can compare captured underground geometry with an approved equipment envelope.
Potential interaction zones can then be classified according to client-defined tolerances.
RED: Contact / interference
YELLOW: Inside client-defined warning tolerance
GREEN: Outside required tolerance
Tolerance values must be defined by the client.
04 Field case study
A SafeSight Workflow Built Around a Real Mining Question
SafeSight has previously used in-motion LiDAR to capture ramps, drifts and shops and compare the resulting 3D geometry against larger underground equipment.
The resulting heat-map approach identified potential collision and near-contact areas so the operation could estimate remediation requirements before equipment introduction.
05 Output value
Ramp Scanning Is Useful Beyond Equipment Fit.
As-Built Documentation
Create an updated 3D representation of the ramp.
Infrastructure Planning
Understand the spatial relationship between the excavation and services.
Clearance
Measure the available operating envelope.
Rehabilitation
Support planning for areas requiring modification.
Long-Route Mapping
Maintain continuous spatial documentation across large ramp networks.
Repeat Scanning
Build a time-based digital record of the route.
06 Service distinction
Ramp Scanning and Drift Scanning Solve Different Route Problems.
Both services use similar spatial-capture technology, but their commercial intent differs.
DRIFT SCANNING
focuses on:
- lateral development
- headings
- as-built geometry
- development progress
- localized clearance
- technical development records
Need lateral development mapping?
Explore Drift Scanning →RAMP SCANNING
focuses on:
- long access routes
- haulage corridors
- equipment movement
- route-wide clearance
- continuous ramp geometry
- infrastructure conflicts
07 Platform selection
Use the Mapping Platform That Fits the Ramp.
SafeScanner — Vehicle
Rapid mobile capture where normal vehicle access is available.
08 Data pipeline
From Underground Route to Engineering Decision.
SafeScanner
Capture
→
Control App
Verify
→
Eclipsed
Process
→
NimbVault
Visualize
→
Equipment
Compare
→
Remediation
Plan
09 Deliverables
Ramp Scanning Deliverables
Final scope depends on the project. Potential outputs include:
Point Cloud
Georeferenced spatial data.
3D Geometry
Continuous ramp representation.
Sections
Ramp sections for planning.
Clearance
Clearance profile documentation.
Comparison
Equipment-envelope comparison.
Heat Map
Visual interference analysis.
Interference
Interference-location report.
As-Built
As-built geometry record.
Tech Files
Compatible technical files.
Browser Viewer
Web-based 3D visualization.
10 Related reading
Expand Your Context
Bigger Truck, More Muck
A SafeSight project using mobile LiDAR for ramp scanning and equipment clearance.
Read Article →Underground Mapping for Stopes, Drifts & Raises
An overview of spatial data capture across the underground environment.
Read Article →Underground Surveying
How drones and mobile scanning integrate with the mine surveying workflow.
Read Article →11 Deep dive
Explore Underground Ramp Scanning
01What Is Underground Ramp Scanning?
Underground ramp scanning uses mobile LiDAR or another spatial capture method to create a continuous three-dimensional record of the mine's access and haulage routes. The resulting geometry can support clearance studies, as-built documentation, equipment planning and infrastructure management.
02How Is Ramp Clearance Measured?
A captured 3D ramp model can be compared with an equipment envelope that represents the machine dimensions and required operating clearance. Locations where the route approaches or intersects the required envelope can then be identified for further engineering review.
03Why Scan Before Introducing Larger Underground Equipment?
Equipment specifications describe the machine. They do not describe the mine route. Scanning the actual underground geometry gives the operation a way to test equipment fit against the environment before mobilization.
12 Field guide / Questions answered
Frequently Asked Questions
01What is underground ramp scanning?
Underground ramp scanning uses mobile LiDAR or another spatial capture method to create a continuous three-dimensional record of the mine's access and haulage routes.
02Can SafeSight map an entire ramp?
Yes. SafeSight captures continuous 3D geometry across long access routes and haulage corridors, depending on the route conditions and selected mapping platform.
03Can ramp scans be used for equipment-clearance analysis?
Yes. The captured 3D ramp model can be compared against an equipment envelope to measure available operating clearance before the actual equipment goes underground.
04Can SafeSight create a clearance heat map?
Yes. SafeSight can compare the underground geometry with an approved equipment envelope and classify potential interaction zones according to client-defined tolerances.
05Can the scan show utilities and obstacles?
Mobile LiDAR captures the visible physical geometry of the ramp environment, which can include visible vent ducting, services, and installed infrastructure, helping you understand the spatial relationship between the excavation and services.
06How is ramp scanning different from drift scanning?
While both use similar spatial capture technology, drift scanning focuses on localized lateral development and headings. Ramp scanning focuses on long access routes, continuous haulage corridors, and route-wide equipment clearance.
07Can DeepTraxx scan a ramp?
DeepTraxx can be used for remote ground mapping in appropriate ramp areas where conventional access is restricted or unsupported.
08Can repeated scans create an as-built history?
Yes. Repeat scanning builds a time-based digital record of the route, documenting rehabilitation, modifications, or long-term geometric changes.
TAKE THE NEXT STEPBefore the Equipment Goes Underground,
Before the Equipment Goes Underground,
Test It Against the Ramp.
Send SafeSight the target route and equipment envelope. We will scope the appropriate scanning workflow and determine what spatial data is required to answer the clearance question.