By Andrew Clark
Underground development is a critical aspect of modern mining operations, allowing for the access and extraction of valuable resources buried deep beneath the Earth’s surface.
Unlike open-pit mining, which involves removing large volumes of overlying rock, underground mining targets ore bodies that are too deep or otherwise unsuitable for surface extraction.
The process begins with development mining, where drill rigs create drifts or declines to access the ore geometries. These tunnels form the “roads” through which miners, equipment, and materials travel.
Watch a video guide to underground development below.
Development mining is typically performed before actual ore extraction begins and serves as a foundation for the entire mining operation.
Through a choreographed sequence, a fleet of different equipment enter the drift and execute specific tasks: Jumbos take care of ground-support and advancement, while loaders are tasked with removing blasted rock. Ancillary vehicles are used for services and explosives management.
Safety is paramount in underground mining. Engineers and geologists work together to assess ground conditions, monitor for potential hazards like gas accumulation, and ensure structural integrity.
Advanced technology, such as remote-operated machinery and real-time data tracking, also helps improve both worker safety and operational efficiency.
Underground mining plays an essential role in providing the raw materials that drive industries from electronics to construction. As the demand for certain minerals increases and deposits near the surface become exhausted, underground development mining is increasingly a vital part of the global mining landscape.
Solutions for underground mining challenges
As mines push deeper beneath the surface for deposits, the need for better communication and collaboration increases. A mine’s ability to digitise processes and react to workflow changes in real time means operations can be optimised and assets and fleet managed more safely.
As a life-of-mine technology partner, Hexagon offers solutions to tackle underground challenges. For example, Hexagon MinePlan software for visualisation, analysis and evaluation is used by mines all over the world for design, modelling and reserve calculations.
MinePlan has its origins in software developed more than 50 years ago when computers were first applied to solve complex geology and engineering challenges for open pit and underground mines. The software brings clarity and insights to the complex undertaking of transforming a resource into a safe and sustainable operation while also enabling effective capital investment for digitalisation, automation and electrification to reduce impacts on people and the planet.
Hexagon products for underground fleet management, drilling and production optimisation, safety and autonomy are summarised below.
Hexagon UG Pro is an integrated tablet-hardware and software application. It manages fleet equipment and optimises production-time utilisation in real time when connected to supported underground communications systems. It tracks locations and movement, and monitors task-level activities, modifying miner and machine workflows in real time as the mine develops and advances.
Hexagon Development Optimiser is an OEM-agnostic alignment system that equips each boom with a removable, wireless sensor called the Optibox. Paired with a ruggedised tablet and Hexagon’s CORE Web platform, the system provides real-time alignment feedback and shift-to-shift drill performance insights. It enables operators of all experience levels to drill accurately to design—delivering more consistent blast outcomes for every cut. The result is improved fragmentation, reduced overbreak, and increased rate of advance.
Hexagon Production Optimiser is designed for longhole drilling and uses a similar alignment and feedback model to Development Optimiser that’s tailored for long-hole drilling applications. By providing drillers with real-time collar accuracy at each hole, Production Optimiser supports tighter drilling, reduced dilution, and improved stope shape—delivering downstream benefits to fragmentation, recovery, and mill performance.
Together, Development Optimiser and Production Optimiser represent a unified, system-agnostic approach to underground drilling optimisation. The success of this approach in building a digital drilling foundation is featured in the following two articles:
Hexagon Operator Alertness System employs advanced sensor technology and machine-learning algorithms to actively monitor operators’ alertness levels. When signs of distraction, drowsiness, or microsleeps are detected, operators receive real-time notifications, providing a crucial layer of protection during their demanding 12-hour shifts. Deployed at MMG’s Rosebery underground mine, OAS led to an 81% reduction in severe fatigue events.
Hexagon Collision Avoidance System is the industry’s leading collision avoidance solution for protecting drivers and equipment above and below ground, providing 360-degree NLOS (non-line-of-sight propagation) operator awareness for vehicles, assets and operators – through snow, rain, fog and dust. CAS can now be enhanced by integrating Hexagon TeleOp for another layer of protection. Employing onboard cameras and sensors, TeleOp is a virtual command chair for the truck operator, enabling safe navigation of vehicles from kilometres away.
Hexagon’s acquisition of radar and real-time location systems leader, indurad, will further help to mitigate collision risks in underground mines.
Conclusion
Hexagon technology paired with training and process change offer a powerful resource for underground mines looking to improve efficiency, reduce rework, and strengthen safety outcomes. New developments in automation, planning integration, and alignment analytics are underway. By digitising, connecting, and optimising underground operations, mines can avoid unplanned downtime and enjoy relative peace of mind in an uncertain business.
Throughout 2025 we’ll be blogging about the challenges facing the mining industry. Drawing upon insights from thought leaders in our customer community and from within Hexagon, we’ll share how trusted partnerships and proven technology are addressing those challenges, helping to improve safety and cut costs while balancing the demands of productivity and sustainability.