APPLICATIONS OF GPS BASED MACHINE GUIDANCE SYSTEMS IN OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS

station (base station) which coordinates are known. The reference receiver collects observa tions from satellites then the differential corrections can be determined from observations and know n coordinates ( Şahin et al.,

After that, computed corrections are transmitted to rover station which position is not known. Finally observations coll ected by rover station and co rrections transmitted by base station are processed by rover st ation and the position of rover st ation is determined in cm accuracy (Diggelen, 1997). RTK GPS method is used especially in navigation. For example real-time position of a moving car or ship can be track ed via RTK GPS method. As it is shown in Figure 3, real time positions of a moving station or a moving ship can be determined in cm accuracy using the rover station’s own observations and corrections which is received from base station. Figure 3. Determining the real time positions of moving objects.

RECLAMINING THE LAND IN OPEN PIT MINING OPERATIONS In open pit mining operations, mine operators must carefully restore the land to its pre- mining contour and conditions. A detailed topographic map of s ite must be made before mining operations begin. Then the topsoil is scraped away by bull dozers and is either immediately re-spread over reclaimed land or p iled up for future use. Then the overburden is removed to expose the coal seam so it can be mined. The overburden is hauled away and stored in spoil piles. After the coal is extracted the overburden and topsoil are re-spread over the site to its original contours carefully matching the topographic maps (James, 2000). For land reclamation at a surface mine, finished surface must exactly match the topographical map. In traditiona l methods, surveyors set grade stakes to provide guidance for machine operators. The grade stakes indica te the cut and fill valu es at the site and machine operators interpolate the grade betw een stakes. Then the surveyors check the resulting surface to calculate the volumes of moved earth and deviations from design surface. This process is not very ea sy. Because surveyors and machine operators must work closely together to produce the final result. They can not work at night and they are dependent on the weather conditions. So it can be say that traditional methods increase costs and decrease productivity. International Conference