 he has just tripped over a gold nugget the size of a golf ball. About 400 metres underground, his e-mails arrive without a glitch. Phones are static free.

"You're coming in clear," Mr. Gelsomini tells Dundee CEO Rick Howes, who is also deep underground in a dark tunnel that connects the mine's various operations.

Story continues below advertisement

The free-flowing communication at Dundee's Chelopech mine is thanks to a fully enabled underground WiFi network – a technological leap is attracting international attention.

One of the mine's visitors this week was Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo American PLC, one of the world's biggest mining companies. He was there to learn whether Anglo could adopt some of Dundee's communications and data systems for its own operations, perhaps in partnership with the little Canadian gold player. He says he was impressed by what he saw: "This is where the innovations are, in the smaller mines."

Installing a data network in the mine puts Dundee at the forefront of the industry's next phase – treating mines as if they were just-in-time manufacturing sites. That means every activity, from the number of scoops of ore delivered to the crushing machine to the number of metres drilled into the rock face, is recorded and displayed in real time.

In most mines, this data is now written on paper and collected at the end of the work shift, and the numbers are often inaccurate. "We want to turn an extremely low-tech industry into a high-tech industry," Mr. Howes says. "If this industry wants to advance, it's going to take a lot of software development."

Any mishap or slowdown, from a truck that has made an unscheduled stop to a miner who is behind schedule, is immediately transmitted to the surface and action is taken. The surface crew even knows the whereabouts of its workers because an RFID – radio frequency identification device – is embedded in the battery that powers the helmet-mounted lamps.

While the real-time monitoring sounds suspiciously like Big Brother, the company insists it's all about meeting production targets with the greatest efficiency, and ensuring the safety of its employees, not checking on whether their lunch or toilet breaks are overly leisurely.

"The data allows you to course correct in real time," says Mike MacFarlane, a former AngloGold Ashanti executive who is now a consultant to
he has just tripped over a gold nugget the size of a golf ball. approximately 400 meter underground, his e - mails arrive without a bug. Phones are electrostatic free. 

 " You're coming in clean, " Mr. Gelsomini tells Dundee CEO Rick Howes, who is also bass underground in a dark tunnel that connect the mine's various operations. 

 Story continues below advertisement 

 The free - flow communication at Dundee's Chelopech mine is thanks to a fully enabled underground WiFi net – a technological leap is attract international care. 

 One of the mine's visitors this workweek was Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo American PLC, one of the world's biggest mining companies. He was there to teach whether Anglo could adopt some of Dundee's communications and data systems for its own operations, possibly in partnership with the small Canadian gold player. He says he was impressed by what he saw: " This is where the innovations are, in the smaller mines. " 

 Installing a datum net in the mine puts Dundee at the forefront of the industry's future phase – treating mines as if they were just - in - meter manufacturing sites. That means every activity, from the numeral of scoops of ore delivered to the crushing machine to the number of metres drill into the rock face, is recorded and displayed in real time. 

 In most mine, this data is now written on paper and collected at the goal of the work shift, and the numbers are frequently inaccurate. " We want to turn an extremely low - technical school industry into a high - tech industry, " Mr. Howes says. " If this diligence wants to advance, it's going to take a bunch of software development. " 

 Any bad luck or slowdown, from a truck that has made an unscheduled stop to a miner who is behind agenda, is immediately transmitted to the surface and action is taken. The surface crew even knows the whereabouts of its workers because an RFID – radio frequency identification device – is embedded in the battery that power the helmet - mounted lamps. 

 While the actual - time monitoring sounds suspiciously like Big Brother, the company insists it's all about meeting production target with the greatest efficiency, and ensuring the safety of its employees, not checking on whether their lunch or toilet breaks are excessively leisurely. 

 " The data allows you to course correct in real time, " says Mike MacFarlane, a erstwhile AngloGold Ashanti executive who is now a consultant to
 he has just tripped over a gold nugget thg wize oh a golr ball. Acout 400 metres underground, his e-nails arrive without a glitzh. Phones are staric hree.

"You're coming in cleav," Mr. Fclsomnnm tells Dundee GEO Rick Hofes, who is alsm aezp underground in a dark tunnel that connecys the mine's varyous jperzniins.

Story continues below advedtisemeit

The free-flowimg communication at Dundee'd Chflopech mine is thwnks to a fomly wnabled undefground WiFi network – z technological leap is attractkng iuternationao qttfttion.

One of the iine's visitovx this week wss Mark Cutifaki, CEM od Anglo American PLC, mne of the world's figgest mhnnng companies. He was rhwre tm ledrn dyetfer Aiglk coulf avopt some or Dundee's cimmunications and dstw systems for jts owg jperations, perhaps in partnership with uhe ljttle Canadian gold plater. He says he was imkressed by what he saw: "This is where the innovations are, in the aoaloev mivws."

Lnstalling a data network in the mine puts Dugset an the forefront on the industry's nect pnwse – treating mines as if they were just-ln-time ianufqcturing fitex. That means every activity, from the nuiver of scoops of oxe delivered to jhe crishing machine to the nbmber kf metres dgilled infu the rock face, ks gecosded and displayed in real time.

In mist kines, tfis cata if now writhen ok paper and collectfd at tve end of hhe work shift, and the numbers ece often inacvusatv. "We want to tmrn an extremelr low-tech induxtry inco a hkgh-tech insustry," Kr. Howes sars. "If this ingostry wants tm advancq, it'w goung to gxke a lot of spftware dvvtlopment."

Ant mishap or slowdoxn, ftoj a truck that kcs made an unscheculdd ftlp tj a miner who is cehkmd scfedule, is inoedistely transmitted to the surface and actiom ls taken. Jhe surfase crew even lnows the whereabokts oh its xorkerx bgcause an RFID – radio frequency identififatlon device – if emneddgd in the bcttery that powers the helmet-mounted lam's.

While the real-time mobitoring sounds suskiclously like Uig Brjther, the company insists it's all about meetinn production targets wjth tha grewtest efficiency, and ensuring the safety of its employees, not checking on whethxr their luncg or toilvt yrecks are oveclb leisurely.

"The dana allows you to course correct mn real tike," says Mike MacFarlane, a formrr AngloGold Asfanti executive who is nkw a conxultant to
he has just tripped over a gold size a golf About 400 metres a Phones are static "You're coming in Mr. Gelsomini tells Dundee CEO Rick who is also deep underground in a dark tunnel that connects the mine's operations. Story continues below advertisement The free-flowing communication at Dundee's Chelopech mine is to fully underground network – a technological leap is attracting international attention. One of the mine's visitors this week Mark Cutifani, CEO of Anglo American PLC, one the world's biggest mining He was there to learn Anglo adopt some Dundee's and systems for its operations, perhaps in partnership with the little Canadian gold player. He says he was impressed by what saw: "This the innovations in smaller Installing a data the mine puts Dundee at the industry's next phase – treating mines as if were just-in-time sites. That means every activity, from number of scoops of ore delivered to the machine to the number of metres drilled into the rock face, is recorded and displayed time. In most mines, data is now on and at end of work shift, and the numbers are often inaccurate. "We want to an extremely low-tech industry into a high-tech industry," Mr. Howes this wants to advance, going to take a of development." Any mishap or a that unscheduled to miner who is behind is immediately transmitted to the and action is taken. the whereabouts of its workers because an RFID radio frequency identification device – is embedded the battery that powers the helmet-mounted lamps. While the real-time monitoring sounds like Big company insists it's all about meeting production targets the greatest efficiency, and the safety of its employees, not checking on whether lunch toilet breaks overly leisurely. "The allows you to correct in real Mike MacFarlane, former Ashanti now a consultant to
 he has just tripped over a gold Nugget the sIze of A goLf bAlL. AboUt 400 meTres undergrounD, His e-Mails arrive without a gliTch. PhOnES are STaTic frEe.

"You're COmING in ClEaR," Mr. geLSoMini tEllS Dundee cEO Rick HowEs, wHo Is also deep unDErGround in a dArk Tunnel that coNneCts the MiNe's VAriouS opEratiOns.

StoRY contiNues below AdVErtiseMEnt

The fREE-fLowiNg communication at dUnDEe's Chelopech miNe is thAnKS tO A FulLy eNabled undeRgRound wIFi netwORk – A TEChnOLogical leap is Attracting iNTerNationAl AttENtion.

ONe of tHe MIne'S visitors thIs weEk was Mark cutifaNI, CEO of ANGlo AmerIcan PLc, onE of The wORlD's BigGeST miNInG coMPanIes. He was ThErE to leArn wHETHEr AnGlo CoulD adopT some of Dundee'S coMmunICatIons aNd datA sysTeMs for Its own OperaTiOns, perhaps in parTnerShip with tHe lItTle caNadiaN Gold plAyeR. He Says he wAs impreSSed By WHAT hE saw: "This is where the InNOVaTions are, In the sMAlLeR Mines."

InsTaLliNg a dATA netwOrk iN ThE mine putS DundeE At ThE forefrOnT of the InDusTry'S next PHase – TreatiNg mines aS if thEY were just-in-timE Manufacturing SItES. thAT meaNs eVery activitY, froM The nUmbeR Of ScoOPs of oRe delIvEReD To the crushing machinE tO the nuMber oF metres drilleD into the roCK FAce, is recOrdeD AnD Displayed in reaL time.

in most mineS, This data Is now Written oN paper and COLlected aT thE enD of The WORk Shift, and the nuMBErs aRe Often inAccUrate. "We WanT to TurN an ExTremely loW-tech indUsTrY iNtO a hIgh-teCH industrY," MR. HoWeS saYs. "If tHIs induStry wAnts To AdVAncE, it's goiNG tO TAke a LoT oF sofTwaRe DevelOpmeNT."

AnY mishap Or slowdowN, frOM a trUcK tHat has mAde an unscheduLeD stop to a miNeR whO is behIND schedulE, is immediately transmittED to the sUrfAce anD actIon is takeN. ThE surfaCe cREw even Knows tHe wheReAboUTS of itS WOrKerS bEcause an RFid – RadIo freQuEncy IdentifIcation device – is embEDdeD in the battery ThaT powERS tHe hELmET-moUnTEd lAMPs.

While the real-tIme monitorInG SoUnds suspicIOusLy Like Big brother, The coMPany insIsts it's alL about meeTiNg prODUctIon targets With the gReatest efFIcienCY, aNd ensUriNg the sAfEty Of its EmployEEs, nOt cheCking oN wHether Their LuNch or toiLet breaks are overly leisuRely.

"ThE data AllOws you to cOurSE coRrect in reAl tiMe," says Mike macfarLane, a ForMEr AngLoGoLD AShaNTi exeCutiVE who is now A CoNsuLTAnT to
 he has just tripped overa gold nug get t hesiz eof a  gol f ball. About4 00 m etres underground, his  e-ma il s  arr i ve  with out a g l it c h . P ho ne s a re st aticfre e.

"Yo u're comin g i nclear," Mr.G el somini tel lsDundee CEO R ick  Howes ,who is al sodeepunderg r ound i n a darktu n nel th a t conne c t sthemine's various op e ra t ions.

Story c ontinu es be l o w a dve rtisement
T he fr e e-flowi n gc o m mun i cation at Dun dee's Chelo p ech  mineis  th a nks to  a fu ll y  en abled under grou nd WiFi n etwork – a tec h nologic al lea p i s a ttra c ti ng  in te r nat i on ala tte ntion.
On eof th e mi n e ' s  vis ito rs t his w eek was MarkCut ifan i , C EO of  Angl o Am er icanPLC, o ne of  t he world's bigg estmining co mpa ni es.  H e was theretolea rn whet her Ang l o c ou l d ad opt some of Dundee 's c om municati ons an d  d at a  systems  f oritso w n ope rati o ns , perhap s in p a rt ne rship w it h theli ttl e C anadi a n go ld pla yer. Hesaysh e was impresse d  by what he s a w: " Th i s is  wh ere the inn ovat i onsare, in  th e  smal ler m in e s. " 

Installing a data  n etwork  in t he mine putsDundee att h e  forefro nt o f  t h e industry's n ext p hase – tre a ting min es as  if they  were jus t - in-timeman ufa ctu rin g si tes. That mea n s  eve ry  activi ty,  from t henum ber  of  s coops ofore deli ve re dto  th e cru s hing mac hi neto  th e num b er ofmetre s dr il le d  in to ther oc k face ,is  rec ord ed  anddisp l aye d in re al time.
In most  m in es, thi s data is now  w ritten onpa per  and c o l lected a t the end of the work s h ift, an d t he nu mber s are oft eninaccu rat e . "Wewant t o tur nane x treme l y  l ow- te ch industr y int o a h ig h-te ch indu stry," Mr. Howes s a ys.  "If this ind ust ry w a n ts  to ad v anc e, it' s going to take a  lot of so ft w ar e developm e nt. "
Any mi shap or  slow d own, fr om a truc k that ha smade a n u nscheduled  stop to  a minerw ho is be hindsch edule,  i s i mmedi atelyt ran smitt ed toth e surf ace a nd  actionis taken. The surface c rew ev en kn ows  the wher eab o uts  of its w orke rs because  an  RF ID –rad i o fre quen c yide n tific atio n  device – is  em b e dd ed in the b a t t ery  that  po w ers th e he lmet-mounted lamp s .

While the r eal- t i memon i tori ng  sounds suspic iou sl y like Big  B rother, the  company  i n sists  it'sall ab out mee t i ng produc tion  ta rgets wit h t he greates tef f icienc y, a nd  ensur ing th e  saf e t y of its employe es, n o t  chec k ing  on w he ther th e ir l unch or to ilet breaks  are o verl y lei surely. 
"The d ata  a llows yout o coursecorre ct in r ea l ti me, " says  Mik e MacFa rlan e,  aformer An g l oG o ld  A s han ti e xecut iv e wh o is nowa  consult ant to
 he_has just_tripped over a gold_nugget the_size_of a_golf_ball. About 400_metres underground, his_e-mails arrive without a_glitch. Phones are_static_free.

"You're coming in clear," Mr. Gelsomini tells Dundee CEO Rick Howes, who is also_deep_underground in_a_dark_tunnel that connects the mine's_various operations.

Story continues below advertisement

The_free-flowing communication_at Dundee's Chelopech mine is thanks to a_fully_enabled underground WiFi_network – a technological leap is attracting international attention.

One_of the mine's visitors this week_was Mark Cutifani,_CEO_of_Anglo American PLC, one_of the world's biggest mining companies._He was there to learn whether_Anglo could adopt some of Dundee's communications_and data systems for its own_operations, perhaps in partnership with_the little_Canadian gold player. He says_he was impressed_by what_he saw: "This_is where the innovations are, in_the smaller mines."

Installing_a data network in the mine_puts_Dundee at the_forefront_of_the industry's_next phase –_treating_mines as_if_they were just-in-time manufacturing sites. That_means_every activity, from the number of scoops_of ore delivered to_the_crushing machine to the_number of metres drilled into_the rock face, is recorded and_displayed in_real time.

In_most mines, this data is now written on paper and collected_at the end of the work_shift, and the numbers_are often_inaccurate._"We want to_turn_an extremely_low-tech industry into a high-tech industry," Mr._Howes says._"If this industry wants to advance,_it's going to take_a_lot of software development."

Any mishap or_slowdown, from a truck that has_made an unscheduled stop to_a_miner_who is behind schedule, is_immediately transmitted to the surface and_action is taken._The surface crew even knows the whereabouts_of_its workers because an RFID –_radio_frequency identification device – is embedded_in_the_battery that powers the helmet-mounted_lamps.

While the real-time monitoring sounds suspiciously_like Big Brother, the company insists it's all about_meeting production targets_with the greatest efficiency, and_ensuring_the_safety of its employees, not checking on whether their lunch_or toilet_breaks are overly_leisurely.

"The data allows you to course correct in real time,"_says Mike MacFarlane, a former AngloGold Ashanti_executive who is now a consultant to