What Equipment Do We Use in Mining Surveying?

instrumental que usamos en topografia minera

In the mining sector, surveying is a key component throughout the entire production process—from exploration, during extraction, and finally in mine closure—due to the benefits it provides in achieving efficient resource management in the extractive industry.

Thanks to the work of companies like Acero Estudio and its surveying services, mining companies can:

  • Accurately calculate the extracted and processed tonnage.
  • Recalculate proven reserves and optimize processes.
  • Effectively plan the continuity of their operations.
  • Reduce risks and comply with environmental and safety regulations.

What Equipment Do We Use in Mining Surveying?

While traditional tools like levels and total stations are always useful, the mining industry requires modern tools and cutting-edge technology. For this reason, at Acero Estudio, we focus on this sector by employing UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or advanced drones equipped with high-resolution sensors. Using these innovative tools allows us to obtain detailed and reliable information in less time and with greater safety.

Drone technology is a key resource in mining surveying, as it significantly improves process efficiency and minimizes risks associated with working in unstable or hard-to-access terrains.

Advantages of Using Drones in Mining Surveying

  • Enhanced Safety: Drones enable surveyors to take measurements in unstable or hard-to-reach areas without exposing themselves to danger.
  • Faster Data Collection: Thanks to their advanced sensors, drones capture topographic information much faster than traditional surveying techniques.
  • Quick 3D Model Generation: The data collected allows for the rapid creation of precise three-dimensional terrain models, facilitating planning and decision-making.

Additionally, UAV drone technology enables us to project roads and new explorations based on the terrain’s characteristics. This is crucial in an industry where a significant portion of investment is dedicated to finding new deposits. Aerial surveying helps optimize access routes, assess project feasibility, and improve exploration logistics.

Finally, topographic information is essential for mine closure operations. Conducting topographic evaluations throughout the entire mining process is vital to prevent leaving areas exposed to landslides or floods. A proper terrain study during the closure phase helps mitigate environmental risks and ensures post-exploitation land stability.

At Acero Estudio, a specialized surveying company, we are committed to innovation and technology in mining surveying, ensuring precise results for our clients. Contact us, and let’s discuss how we can assist you.

Can Earthquakes Affect the Topography of an Area?

how the earthquakes affect topography

One of the most interesting questions we have received from our Peruvian clients in recent times is whether an earthquake can affect the topography of an area. This is an unusual but important question, especially since countries like Peru are located in a high seismic activity zone known as the “Pacific Ring of Fire.”

The answer is a resounding YES. Seismic movements directly impact topography and soil characteristics due to various phenomena that affect the terrain. These include:

Ground Movement and Rupture

Earthquakes can cause movement and displacement of the Earth’s surface due to waves generated by the friction of tectonic plates. These displacements can damage rigid structures such as buildings and bridges.

Formation of Scarps

Scarps are abrupt rock formations that appear to rise from the terrain due to seismic movement. These can form suddenly or along a fault line, serving as visible evidence of crustal deformation. Over millions of years, scarps can evolve into mountain ranges.

Liquefaction

In soils affected by moisture or with the presence of water, a phenomenon known as liquefaction can occur. This causes the ground to lose its consistency, leading to the total collapse of structures.

As you can see, earthquakes have a real impact on the ground and, consequently, on the topography of land, valleys, and mountainous areas. If you want to learn more about topography and how we can help you reduce construction risks in your projects (even in seismic zones), feel free to contact us and inquire about our topographic survey services.

Acero Estudio, as a company specializing in advanced topographic studies, is always at your service.

Integration of BIM with IoT: A New Level in Operations and Maintenance Management

bim and iot fusion to improve management and operativity of buildings

Until now, the most commonly known objective of BIM has been the creation of 3D models, whose benefits in risk reduction and efficiency are well established. However, integrating this methodology with other applications and technologies is opening up new and highly valuable possibilities.

Based on these ideas, this article explores the integration of BIM with the Internet of Things (IoT), an important dimension due to the opportunities it offers for building operation and management.

The Challenge of Building Operation and Management

One of the major challenges in building operation and management today is that these processes have traditionally relied on:

  • Experience and professional judgment
  • Visual information about potential risks or deteriorating structures

With the integration of BIM and IoT, we will move away from assumptions and empirical knowledge and instead focus on real-time data collected by various sensors. These sensors will provide accurate statistical data on:

  • Traffic flow
  • Temperature
  • Structural position (expansion, torsion, or other physical changes)

By combining this data with decentralized cloud-based databases and real-time reporting capabilities, we will be able to anticipate risks, develop energy efficiency strategies, and create plans to improve the movement of people within managed spaces, thanks to BIM.

Although it may still be early to fully grasp the potential of merging these technologies, their evolution is inevitable.

If you are looking to integrate BIM into your construction or building management activities, we invite you to contact Acero Estudio. We are specialists in BIM consulting services in Europe and Latin America. Let us help you develop your plans and turn your ideas into reality.

Key Trends in BIM Consulting

equipo de profesionales conversando sobre un proyecto BIM

With the reduced availability of global credit and cheap money worldwide, both countries and companies are becoming increasingly cautious with their construction and engineering projects. In this context, one of the key tools for achieving efficiency is the BIM methodology, which, as we have seen, offers numerous advantages in reducing errors and maximizing efficiency.

However, this methodology has intertwined with various new techniques, technologies, and ways of thinking that present challenges but, above all, opportunities. Let’s explore the main technologies that are driving significant changes in the BIM methodology.

estructura en bim

Trends in BIM Consulting

  • Implementation of BIM across different construction specialties, including infrastructure construction, industrial construction, and the maintenance of built assets. This highlights the importance of the BIM methodology and, most importantly, its versatility in being efficiently applied across a wide range of fields.
  • Integration of BIM with promising technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence (AI). These technological complements are making projects more efficient, from planning to management.
    • AR: Before the construction phase, AR applications allow us to stand in front of an empty site and visualize/project a building that does not yet exist.
    • VR: With virtual reality, we can enter the site before construction begins, walk through the environment, and experience its infrastructure—all in digital format but with the realistic 3D experience provided by platforms like Oculus.
    • IoT: A digital twin without real-time data would be incomplete. Thanks to sensor networks, the Internet of Things enables increasingly realistic digital twins that provide valuable information for infrastructure usage and strategic planning.
    • AI: Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in detecting errors, calculation failures, or other issues that may escape human oversight and could impact the building’s integrity.

Smart Cities with Efficient Urban Planning

This is the ultimate goal of BIM—integrating buildings into interconnected systems, creating efficient cities where each project harmoniously integrates with its surroundings while meeting the specific requirements of the development.

We can affirm that what we consider cutting-edge technology is still evolving. Contact Acero Estudio, a company specializing in BIM Consulting, and we will gladly guide you toward more agile and efficient projects, ensuring that every element (foundation, column, beam, etc.) is placed with minimal risk and the highest certainty in terms of resistance, durability, and construction quality.

We are at your service.

Topography and Its Importance in the Knowledge of Alluvial Basins

estudio de canales aluviales con la topografia

Since it is currently the rainy season along the Latin American coast, this article is highly relevant and well-contextualized for the first three months of the year.

Among the lesser-explored functions of topography is that it enhances the understanding of soils and their stability characteristics. This knowledge is essential for accurately calculating the volumes of material carried by rain during specific periods of rainy years.

The proper evaluation of these phenomena allows us to understand soil behavior in response to water erosivity and its sediment transport capacity, which directly impacts the design and maintenance of natural and artificial channels.

To estimate sediment contribution in basins, the empirical Gavrilovic model (Gavrilovic 1959, 1988; Zemljic 1971) is employed, widely used in hydrology and geotechnical studies. This model enables the calculation of annual sediment production by considering variables such as precipitation erosivity, geological and edaphological characteristics of the terrain, land use, and slope.

Thanks to this methodology, it is possible to obtain a reliable estimate of the amount of sediment transported by waterways during intense rainfall events, contributing to better planning of mitigation and erosion control measures.

These types of studies are fundamental for improving knowledge of alluvial flows, allowing for the reduction of their impact and risks on urban and transportation infrastructure. The accumulation of sediments in channels and reservoirs can cause blockages, reduce storage capacity, and increase the risk of flooding. Therefore, the application of topographic techniques and mathematical modeling is key in designing preventive and corrective solutions for efficient water resource management and the protection of hydraulic structures.

At Acero Estudio, as a topography company, we specialize in topographic survey services and are at your disposal to conduct detailed studies that ensure an adequate understanding of the terrain and its dynamics. Contact us and ensure the reliability of your projects with our team of experts.

 

What are Workflows in BIM?

mujer trabajando en un modelo bim

Workflows in BIM (Building Information Modeling) are structured processes and procedures that enable the creation, management, and use of 3D digital models in construction projects, where a team is responsible for generating and supervising a model.

Their purpose is to enhance communication among different professionals involved, reduce errors, and improve efficiency in the design, planning, and execution of a project.

Advantages of Using Workflows in BIM

  • Facilitate real-time data integration
  • Improve collaboration among multidisciplinary teams
  • Reduce costs caused by errors or rework
  • Provide better visualization of the project before construction, aiding decision-making
  • Minimize compliance-related issues

There are various types of BIM workflows, tailored to the needs of each project and team. Some focus on the coordination of disciplines (architecture, structures, and installations), while others prioritize data management and integration with other technologies.

Unlike CAD or software development workflows, which focus on producing static files or lines of code, BIM digital models aim to integrate and evolve throughout the project.

To achieve an efficient BIM workflow, it is advisable to have specialized BIM consulting that guides the implementation of standards, tools, and appropriate methodologies. Poor management can lead to modeling errors, incompatibilities, or coordination issues that affect the project’s success.

Acero Estudio, a company specialized in services for the design, architecture, and construction sectors, offers personalized solutions to ensure an optimal workflow aligned with the best practices in the industry. Do not wait, contact us, we are at your service.

Topography in Construction on Sloped Terrain

topografia en sierra peruana

Many terrains, especially on the outskirts of cities, have slopes, and inclined areas pose a challenge for any construction project, from the design stage to the execution of the work.

The accuracy of structural calculations and the planning of cuts and fills are all affected by the stability and inclination of the area. In this sense, to achieve the proper placement of buildings, a topographic study allows for identifying risks and making key decisions to ensure the safety and efficiency of the project.

What risks can be avoided with a topographic study:

  • Landslides and soil erosion
  • Deficiencies in the drainage system
  • Errors in earth movement calculations
  • Structural instability due to irregular settlements

Additionally, topographic analysis facilitates the planning of preventive measures, such as:

  • The construction of retaining walls
  • Adaptation of drainage systems
  • Optimization of structural design to adapt to the natural topography of the terrain

Once the project is completed, topography is used for construction compliance certification, the preparation of documentation for maintenance work, or property expansions, preventing future problems.

In this regard, at Acero Estudio, we specialize in topographic services to ensure the success of construction on sloped terrain. Our services include topographic surveys using the polygonal method, high-precision geometric leveling, and other techniques with UAVs such as drone photogrammetry and LIDAR technology to capture the terrain morphology in detail.

If you need a topographic company, do not hesitate to contact us—we are at your service.

3D Láser Scanning and its role in the generation of digital 3D models

laser escaner 3d en proceso de alquiler

Among the tools and technologies used by Acero Estudio is 3D laser scanning. This technology allows for the capture of a point cloud that represents a highly accurate model of reality. The greater the number of points, the higher the quality of the model.

APPLICATIONS OF LASER SCANNING

One of the most interesting applications of 3D laser scanning is the generation of digital twins through the Scan to BIM technique. The resulting models are faithful replicas of physical reality and enable various functions, such as:

  • Replicating mechanisms in identical digital copies.
  • Preserving the 3D model.
  • Implementing preventive and corrective maintenance activities using these digital clones.
  • Conducting precise analyses and optimizations.

While the creation of these models is crucial, their application and integration within the company’s work methodologies and value generation processes are even more important.

If you want to learn more about our 3D laser scanning service, do not hesitate to contact us—we are at your service.

How to Implement the BIM Methodology in a Company

implementar metodologia bim en una empresa

Why are construction and architecture companies worldwide adopting the BIM methodology? The answer is simple: this technology enhances project management, optimizes resources, and reduces errors in design and execution.

In Which Sectors is BIM Useful?

BIM is recommended for all types of projects, but it is especially valuable for large-scale developments, such as:

  • Commercial buildings
  • Urban infrastructure
  • Industrial developments

However, it is also highly beneficial for medium and small projects that require efficient cost and time management. Companies looking to improve their competitiveness and comply with international regulations should consider implementing BIM from the early design stages.

Key Steps for a Successful Transition to BIM

To successfully transition to BIM, a company must follow key steps:

  1. Train the team in specialized software and information modeling principles.
  2. Establish protocols and workflows adapted to the BIM methodology.
  3. Partner with a BIM consulting company to ensure an effective implementation.

Having expert guidance is crucial to avoiding mistakes and maximizing the benefits of BIM technology. If your company wants to implement BIM, Acero Estudio is your best ally.

The Relationship Between Digital Twins and BIM Methodology

uso de bim y gemelo digital

A digital twin is a digital replica of a physical asset, system, or process. To create one, technologies such as cameras and sensors—like 3D laser scanners—are used. This digital model not only represents the physical object but also interacts with it through data analysis, simulations, and predictions powered by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).

The applications of a digital twin are vast and incredibly useful, including:

  • Real-time asset monitoring.
  • Simulation of favorable and unfavorable scenarios to optimize processes.
  • Predictive maintenance to prevent failures.
  • Visualization and analysis for informed decision-making.

Applications of Digital Twins

Develop a digital twin have a significant impact across various sectors where proactive actions are essential to avoid risks caused by a lack of foresight. These sectors include:

  • Construction and Infrastructure: Optimizing projects and maintaining smart buildings.
  • Manufacturing: Improving efficiency in production lines.
  • Energy and Utilities: Managing power grids and maintaining energy plants.
  • Transportation and Logistics: Simulating routes and optimizing fleets.
  • Healthcare: Modeling medical devices and hospital systems.

Developing a Digital Twin

The creation of a digital twin is based on three key pillars:

  1. Data Collection: Using IoT sensors and digital sources.
  2. 3D Modeling: Employing advanced tools like BIM methodology to accurately represent the asset.
  3. Real-Time Connectivity: Feeding the model with dynamic data for simulations and predictive analysis.

How Digital Twins Are Enhanced with BIM

Combining BIM methodology with digital twins unlocks unique benefits:

  • Operational Efficiency: BIM provides precision in design and construction, while the digital twin optimizes the usage and maintenance of assets.
  • Cost Reduction: Lower maintenance expenses through predictive analysis and efficient resource management.
  • Data-Driven Decision-Making: BIM lays a solid foundation for design, while the digital twin delivers real-time insights for strategic decisions.
  • Sustainability: Reduces environmental impact by maximizing asset performance and minimizing waste.

At Acero Estudio, we are experts in BIM consulting and digital twin creation, offering comprehensive solutions for projects of any scale. We optimize your processes and help you improve efficiency with the most advanced technology on the market. Contact us today, and let’s start improving your efficiency and transforming the way you manage projects!