Real-time Google Earth 3D assisted driving system in surface mining operations

To improve the mine haul trucks operating safety in surface mining, a novel driving assisted system based on the GPS, mesh-wireless networks, and the Google-Earth API was developed. It has the capability to pin-point and track vehicles in real time using a 3D interface, which is based on user-based AutoCAD mine maps using the Google-Earth graphics interface. The research results indicate that it increases reliability and reduces uncertainty in surface mining operations by customizing the local 3D digital mining map, constructing the truck 3D models, tracking vehicles, warning proximity dangers and indicating available escape routes.