Testing Satellite SCADA Communications for Critical Remote Mine Water Supply Sites

Recently, a client commissioned us to identify and implement a Wireless SCADA Communications Solution for their critical remote mine water supply sites in Idaho.

This presented a unique set of challenges due to the geographical isolation of the locations and the necessity for reliable, real-time data transmission for effective monitoring and control. Our mandate was to explore various wireless technologies and determine the most suitable option to ensure uninterrupted monitoring and control of the water supply infrastructure.

Inaccessible Terrain

During the winter and spring, there is limited site access with access only by tracked vehicles due to the mountainous terrain and elevation. During the harsh winter and spring months, the remote mine water supply sites experience severely restricted access due to challenging terrain and high elevations. The only viable means of reaching these critical locations during this period is through the use of tracked vehicles, highlighting the logistical complexities involved in maintaining essential infrastructure in such demanding environments.

      

To ensure reliable SCADA communications for critical remote mine water supply sites, we conducted an RF Path Study and Onsite Path Testing.

The Radio Frequency (RF) Path Study involved an in-depth analysis of the terrain, potential obstructions, and atmospheric conditions between the central control station and the remote mine sites. This evaluation utilized path profiles, area maps, coverage maps, and terrain maps.

Onsite Path Testing

Onsite Path Testing was conducted to validate the predictions of the RF Path Study and assess real-world signal performance.

During the Onsite Testing, we deployed cellular and multiple satellite communications options at the proposed sites and assessed signal strength measurements:

By conducting both the RF Path Study and the Onsite Path Study, we could assess the feasibility and reliability of each solution with respect to the terrain and tree coverage.

At this site it was found that the extreme heavy tree coverage affects Low Earth Satellite Based Communications solutions like Starlink and Iridium. We found that Cellular and BGAN (GEO Satellite) were the optimal SCADA communication solutions due to the clear path to the cellular tower or to the GEO Satellite.  In this manner, the onsite RF Path Study ensures dependable SCADA communications for the critical remote mine water supply sites.