HELIX by MST Global unlocks real-time intelligence for connected safety and operational visibility, unifying people, equipment and underground operations.
Safety in modern mining is no longer confined to isolated systems, manual tagboards, or delayed reports. As underground operations grow in scale and complexity, mines require real-time, integrated visibility across people, equipment, environments, and processes. MST Global’s HELIX platform addresses this challenge through an agnostic, modular digital ecosystem that unifies data sources into a single geospatial digital twin, enabling proactive safety management across the entire mine.
At its core, HELIX is designed to be technology-agnostic, interoperable, and scalable. It integrates data from sensors, wearables, mobile equipment, automation systems, and networks – regardless of vendor or wireless technology – into a real-time 3D representation of surface and underground operations. This holistic visibility fundamentally changes how mines manage safety, shifting from reactive responses to proactive, data-driven prevention.
A single source of truth
One of the most significant safety challenges underground is fragmented information. Personnel locations, environmental conditions, equipment status, and production activities often exist in separate systems, creating blind spots during normal operations and emergencies. HELIX resolves this by acting as a centralised “single source of truth,” visualising all safety-critical data within a unified geospatial digital twin.
Using HELIX 3D Connect, mines gain real-time location awareness of personnel and assets across both surface and underground environments. The platform supports multiple positioning technologies – including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth low energy (BLE), global navigation satellite system (GNSS), and ultra-wideband (UWB) – allowing operations to select the most appropriate technology for each zone while maintaining a consistent view in one system. This approach ensures reliable tracking even in complex underground conditions, which is critical for safety applications such as collision avoidance, proximity detection, and evacuation management.
Another cornerstone of underground safety is real-time personnel visibility. HELIX Sentinel replaces traditional physical tagboards with a dynamic electronic system that continuously displays the location and status of underground workers. Supervisors can instantly see who is underground, where they are working, and which zones are occupied.
In a critical scenario – such as a gas alarm or ground instability event – this visibility enables faster, safer decisions. Rather than relying on radio check-ins or manual headcounts, control room operators can immediately identify affected personnel, prioritise evacuations, and communicate directly with individuals based on their real-time location. This reduces response times, minimises confusion, and significantly lowers the risk to workers during emergencies.
Beyond emergency response, Sentinel also improves day-to-day safety compliance.
Automated zone monitoring and geofencing can alert supervisors when personnel enter restricted or hazardous areas, enabling early intervention before an incident occurs.
Safety through automation
HELIX extends safety beyond visibility by enabling intelligent automation.
Through the HELIX Automation module, mines can connect sensors, controllers, and third-party systems to automatically respond to changing conditions in real time. A practical example is ventilation-on-demand.
By combining personnel location data with environmental sensors, HELIX can automatically adjust fans to deliver airflow only where people are working. This not only improves air quality in active areas – reducing exposure to dust and gases – but also prevents over-ventilation in unoccupied zones.
The result is safer working conditions paired with reduced energy consumption and operating costs.
Similarly, automation rules can control doors, traffic lights, and pumps based on real-time location and sensor data. For instance, vehicle access can be restricted when personnel are detected nearby, reducing collision risk in confined underground spaces. These automated responses remove reliance on manual intervention, reducing human error while maintaining consistent safety controls.
Underground vehicle interactions are another major safety risk.
HELIX Dispatch and Telemetry modules provide real-time visibility into fleet movements, equipment health, and production activities throughout the mine.
When integrated with location intelligence, dispatchers gain a clear understanding of traffic flows, congestion points, and unsafe interactions. For example, if equipment enters a high-risk intersection or operating zone, supervisors can be alerted immediately. Historical movement data also allows teams to analyse near-miss events and redesign traffic rules or layouts to prevent future incidents. Over time, this continuous feedback loop improves both safety and operational efficiency.
Telemetry further enhances safety by monitoring machine health and alarms in real time. Early detection of overheating, pressure anomalies, or mechanical faults allows maintenance teams to intervene before equipment failures escalate into safety incidents.
The true value of HELIX lies in its ability to connect safety and efficiency. Real-time visibility eliminates data latency, allowing decisions to be made based on current conditions rather than outdated reports. Supervisors can see how safety events impact production and adjust plans dynamically, balancing risk reduction with operational continuity.
For instance, if a hazardous condition restricts access to a working area, HELIX enables rapid redeployment of personnel and equipment to alternative locations. This reduces downtime while maintaining strict safety controls. Over time, analytics derived from HELIX data help identify recurring safety risks, optimise workflows, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
A future-proof platform
Mining operations evolve, and safety systems must evolve with them. HELIX’s modular, interoperable architecture ensures mines can scale functionality over time, integrate new technologies, and avoid vendor lock-in.
Whether deploying advanced tracking, IoT sensor networks, or automation workflows, HELIX provides a consistent safety framework across the entire operation.
By unifying people, assets, environments, and automation within a real-time geospatial digital twin, HELIX transforms safety management from reactive oversight into proactive control.
The result is a safer mine, a more efficient operation, and a workforce empowered by visibility, intelligence, and confidence underground.
This feature appeared in the March-April edition of Safe to Work.
