Application Methods of Handheld Laser Rangefinders in Underground Mines
The application of DISTO in mining mainly combines DISTO units with domestic theodolites to form a prism-free total station solution. This integrated system is widely used underground for measuring control points, section heights, stope volumes and other key parameters.
Before relevant work units adopted handheld DISTO laser rangefinders, traditional underground surveying relied on outdated methods. According to a person in charge of a surveying department, underground stope measurement was previously completed using theodolites, tape measures, extension poles and domestic pulsed rangefinders. This conventional approach had prominent drawbacks:
Low measurement accuracy. A practical case illustrates this issue clearly. At the end of 1998, two geological survey teams separately calculated the volume of the same underground stope. One group obtained a result of 55,000 cubic meters, while the other recorded 68,000 cubic meters. Measured values fluctuated drastically in repeated tests, making follow‑up surveys unreliable.
Slow operation and low efficiency. The harsh underground environment differs greatly from surface working conditions. Restricted by poor lighting, confined spaces and complex site conditions, traditional surveying was extremely time‑consuming. Measuring a single control point often required several times the working hours needed for surface operations.
Although domestic handheld pulsed rangefinders supported distance measurement, most adopted ultrasonic ranging technology. Operators could not visually locate the measuring target. Coupled with short effective range and insufficient precision, such devices were severely limited in practical application.
Improvements after Adopting DISTO
For underground surveying, operators only need to set up a theodolite paired with a DISTO rangefinder. No staff are required to stand at target points. Survey tasks can be completed quickly, safely and accurately, effectively solving the longstanding problems of low speed, poor efficiency and unstable precision in traditional underground measurement.
In particular, the visible red laser aiming point of the handheld laser rangefinder has been highly praised by field surveyors. The device can also be used independently for simple underground measurements. It supports mass data storage and eliminates the need for manual on‑site recording.
Beyond underground operations, handheld laser rangefinders are also suitable for open‑pit slope monitoring, construction setting‑out and other surface surveying tasks, delivering versatile performance for mining operations.
