Automated monitoring solution for Renison Tailings Storage Facility

The Renison TSF is a long-established and operationally significant facility that is vital to ongoing mining activities. Over time, its monitoring systems have evolved in response to changing operational needs and external regulatory requirements. Instrumentation was installed incrementally, resulting in substantial datasets used to monitor pore pressure, embankment deformation, seepage rates, seismic activity and environmental parameters.

While monitoring coverage was comprehensive, much of the workflow relied on manual field collection and ad hoc data management developed over many years. Data collection required regular site visits to retrieve readings from in-field instrumentation, followed by transcription, consolidation and validation before engineers could interpret results.

As datasets expanded, so too did the effort required to manage them. Engineering review and reporting were often delayed long after measurements were taken, creating an inherent lag between site conditions, analytical insight and critical decision-making. In the context of a TSF — where understanding pore pressure, deformation and seismic trends is central to informed risk management — enhancing the timeliness and accessibility of data became increasingly important.

The challenge, therefore, was not to replace an existing system, but to strengthen and streamline it: to improve efficiency, reduce reliance on manual handling and provide more immediate visibility of critical performance indicators, while maintaining engineering quality and regulatory confidence.

BMTJV engaged GHD to undertake a structured, risk-informed optimisation study of the TSF monitoring framework. We began by assessing the engineering design, failure modes and associated monitoring requirements, with particular focus on failure modes identified by the Engineer of Record, including liquefaction within the embankment. These insights informed a multi-criteria assessment of suitable technologies and instrumentation capable of testing key design assumptions for the asset. The approach covered pore pressure instrumentation, deformation monitoring, seepage measurement (including deployment design), seismic detection, and selected environmental indicators aligned with compliance requirements.

Rather than prescribing a single technology solution, we adopted a supplier-agnostic approach to instrumentation design and selection. We reviewed existing systems and developed recommendations to enhance automation, telemetry and overall integration. Our team designed a network of remotely connected and managed sensors to provide an operational and compliant view of activity across the Renison Mine site. Data from operational, geotechnical and environmental sensors is automatically collected and presented in a consolidated, single platform. This enables data to be self-managed, significantly reducing time spent processing information in spreadsheets.

To unify these elements, we deployed and configured InsightVision, GHD’s digital monitoring platform, customised specifically to the characteristics and risk priorities of the Renison TSF. By integrating real-time data from multiple sensor types, into a secure, centralised environment, InsightVision automatically captures, validates, and visualises data, with role-based access tailored to the needs of different stakeholders. We implemented the solution in stages, enabling BMTJV to prioritise critical instrumentation while retaining flexibility for future expansion in line with operational requirements and capital planning.

This modernised monitoring framework marks a significant step forward for BMTJV in overseeing and managing the Renison TSF. By replacing multiple legacy monitoring systems with a centrally integrated solution, the platform consolidates all collected, processed and analysed data into a single system.

This integrated visibility enables BMTJV to make better-informed engineering decisions in near real time. Previously, site teams often had to wait for external engineers to receive, process and interpret monitoring data — a process that could take weeks or even months. With direct access to validated data and insights, engineers can now assess conditions and respond appropriately, improving both the speed and quality of decision-making when it matters most.

Alerts and alarms, configured to site-specific rules, provide early notification of potential issues, while centralised data storage simplifies compliance reporting. Geospatially mapped and grouped sensors make it easier to understand trends and interrogate data effectively, while optimised dashboards present monitored site-specific requirements and thresholds in a clear, actionable format.

Through a collaborative, carefully phased approach, BMTJV now operates a resilient, integrated monitoring solution that strengthens long-term stewardship of the Rension TSF and enables proactive, risk-informed performance management of this critical tailings facility.