Smart-mining project built on with distribution agreement

The LoRaWAN solution, a small private network (SPN), for a major new zinc mine in Central Queensland covers a large area that is prone to weather extremes, such as high temperatures, droughts and flooding. Careful water management is critical for maintaining operations during Australia’s dry season, so continuous data collection from water meters is required to allow the company to respond more efficiently to changing weather conditions and water supplies.

Before the network and water meters were installed, employees manually recorded water levels twice daily from various pools located around the site, often far from mining-operation headquarters.

Working with Vernetzen IoT, an engineering company specialised in industrial communications communications-technology integrator for mining companies, Kerlink and M2M Connectivity deployed a LoRaWAN network on the site, including a Kerlink Wirnet Station gateway with an embedded LoRa Network Server, or Wanesy Small Private Network (SPN), that allows gathering and treatment of data collected directly on the Wirnet station. The mining staff can now monitor water conditions continuously, analyse the data on-site, and respond as needed.

Ermeline Lebon, Head of Kerlink Channel Sales, stated: “This small private network at the mining site exemplifies Kerlink’s success at collaborating with leading local IoT and communications companies to deliver efficient, secure solutions that solve specific problems private network owners have. M2M Connectivity already distributes the world-leading Kerlink LoRaWAN gateways range, with all models designed for the APAC region frequency bands. So they are the obvious choice to represent us in Australia and New Zealand to help design and deploy a variety of future small private networks.”

Beyond the smart-mining project, M2M Connectivity will offer its partners Kerlink products and the expert knowledge of Kerlink’s design services team to support smart agriculture, smart cities and industrial IoT applications in both countries.

Daryl Chambers, director of M2M Connectivity, added: “M2M is excited to be appointed as Kerlink’s distribution partner for Australia and New Zealand. Kerlink is the leading provider of LoRaWAN gateways globally, with many successful roll outs, and we see a great opportunity to help companies build and manage private LoRaWAN networks using 3G or satellite backhaul options for remote connectivity.”