dc.contributor.author	Dougherty, Heather N.	en
dc.contributor.committeechair	Luxbacher, Kramer Davis	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Ripepi, Nino S.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Karmis, Michael E.	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Agioutantis, Zacharias	en
dc.contributor.committeemember	Schafrik, Steven J.	en
dc.contributor.department	Mining Engineering	en
dc.date.accessioned	2018-06-30T08:04:29Z	en
dc.date.available	2018-06-30T08:04:29Z	en
dc.date.issued	2018-06-29	en
dc.description.abstract	A majority of underground coal mine disasters in the United States are due to explosions. Current atmospheric monitoring system (AMS) practices in the US could be enhanced to facilitate data sharing and learning of the entire work force. With the inclusion of additional atmospheric monitoring and data collecting, meaningful analysis can be realized and shared with the workforce. AMS data can be utilized to advance the understanding of underground atmospheres for the entire workforce along with adding to the knowledge base for preventative planning. An AMS interface ADAMAS is suggested to facilitate this conglomeration and sharing of the data visually, so that it can be quickly processed and applied in their daily decisions. An emerging sensor technology for underground mining, fiber optics is explored and tested in emergency, or fire and explosion situations. The fiber optic methane sensor performed well in smoke only showing a slow in response time due to soot on the filter. The ADAMAS interface was tested in a large population of underground coal miners. The population varied in age, job, classification, and experience. They all primarily found it to be easy to use and helpful to them. Concerns arose when asked how this will facilitate an improved relationship with regulatory agencies. There is trepidation when it comes to additional atmospheric information sharing, that it may not be used advance understanding of mine atmospheres. The AMS data collected is individual to each mine site but can assist in the understanding of underground atmosphere as a whole. Moving forward, regulatory bodies should use this as a stepping point to consider how this information can be used to advance the field of mine ventilation and also the health and safety of the miner.	en
dc.description.abstractgeneral	Many accidents in underground coal mines in the United States are due to explosions. Explosions occur when there is a spark created in an atmosphere that contains an explosive mixture of methane and oxygen. Current monitoring in the United States standardly follows what regulators stipulate. It is suggested and tested that we use additional atmospheric monitors, including fiber optic technology, to monitor the atmosphere, trend the data and share it with the mining workforce. Shown is current trends for atmospheric monitoring systems (AMS) and out suggestion for increased monitoring and using an interface called ADAMAS for trending and sharing data visually in graphs and locations on maps. A novel sensing technology a fiber optic methane sensor was also tested in smoke conditions for its applicability in underground mines during an emergency. Both the interface and the fiber optic sensor were successful in testing. Miners found the interface easy to use and informative. The fiber optic sensor was successful sensing methane even in smoke environments although the response time of the sensor decreased.	en
dc.description.degree	Ph. D.	en
dc.format.medium	ETD	en
dc.identifier.other	vt_gsexam:15886	en
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10919/83830	en
dc.publisher	Virginia Tech	en
dc.rights	In Copyright	en
dc.rights.uri	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/	en
dc.subject	underground mining	en
dc.subject	ventilation	en
dc.subject	interface	en
dc.subject	atmospheric monitoring	en
dc.subject	AMS	en
dc.subject	Fiber optic	en
dc.subject	methane	en
dc.title	Evaluation and Design of Atmospheric Monitoring Interfaces and Approaches for Improved Health and Safety in Underground Coal Mines	en
dc.type	Dissertation	en
thesis.degree.discipline	Mining Engineering	en
thesis.degree.grantor	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University	en
thesis.degree.level	doctoral	en
thesis.degree.name	Ph. D.	en

Evaluation and Design of Atmospheric Monitoring Interfaces and Approaches for Improved Health and Safety in Underground Coal Mines

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