Reopening an Abandoned Underground Mine - 3D Digital Mine Inventory Model from Historical Data and Rapid Laser Scanning

The decision to reopen a mine abandoned for 30 years is going to be complex because a significant financial commitment is going to depend on a re-evaluation of both the remaining mineral resource and the surviving mine infrastructure. Historical pre-digital records will need to be assessed and new data acquired both to prove up an ore reserve and to assess the status of existing mine development and infrastructure. We describe how historic mining data were collected and compiled on the mine infrastructure (tunnels, buildings) and how mineral resource data were prepared and transferred into a 3D digital mine inventory for the Otanmäki Mine in Finland. We also demonstrate the applicability of rapid handheld laser scanning for simultaneous localization and mapping to supplement the available mine plans. Point-cloud laser scans were collected in the hoisting tower and evacuation shelter.