title: A GIS-based approach: Influence of the ventilation layout to the environmental conditions in an underground mine.
abstract: Gases such as CO, CO2 or NOx are constantly generated by the equipment in any underground mine and the ventilation layout can play an important role in keeping low concentrations in the working faces. Hence, a method able to control the workplace environment is crucial. This paper proposes a geographical information system (GIS) for such goal. The system created provides the necessary tools to manage and analyse an underground environment, connecting pollutants and temperatures with the ventilation characteristics over time. Data concerning the ventilation system, in a case study, has been taken every month since 2009 and integrated into the management system, which has quantified the gasses concentration throughout the mine due to the characteristics and evolution of the ventilation layout. Three different zones concerning CO, CO2, NOx and effective temperature have been found as well as some variations among workplaces within the same zone that suggest local airflow recirculations. The system proposed could be a useful tool to improve the workplace conditions and efficiency levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining and Natural Resources, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), Manresa, Av. Bases de Manresa, 61-73, 08242, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: marc.bascompta@upc.edu.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bascompta
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining, Topography and Structures, University of León (ESTIM), Campus de Vegazana, s.n, 24071, León, Spain. Electronic address: amcasg@unileon.es.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castañón
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining and Natural Resources, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), Manresa, Av. Bases de Manresa, 61-73, 08242, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: lluis.sanmiquel@upc.edu.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sanmiquel
authors.affiliation: Department of Mining and Natural Resources, Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), Manresa, Av. Bases de Manresa, 61-73, 08242, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: josep@emrn.upc.edu.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliva
mesh_terms: D000388:Air / Q000032:analysis; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D004777:Environment; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D014691:Ventilation
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D005740:Gases
keywords: GIS; Pollutant; Safe workplace; Underground environment; Ventilation layout