SENSOR DDS^® - Technology Trusted by the Whole World

Sensor is one of the global leaders in the field of detection and precise location of geomembrane leaks. Since 1990, it has been developing and deploying advanced SENSOR DDS^® systems that protect the environment, water resources and critical infrastructure in demanding industries - from landfills, hydraulic structures and the mining industry to the oil, gas, energy, agricultural and construction sectors. The company’s technologies have been used in more than 49 countries worldwide, on more than 1,700 projects, and protect more than 17 million m² of geomembranes.

Sensor is a global leader in the field of detection and precise location of geomembrane leaks. For more than 35 years, it has been developing and deploying SENSOR DDS® technology, which helps protect the environment in industries such as water management, mining, landfills and construction. The company’s solutions have been implemented in countries around the world.

World leader in leak detection for geomembranes and waterproofing - ELL since 1990

Sensor DDS® since 1990

Leach Pad

SENSOR DDS® Technology Applied to a Gold Mine Leach Pad

A Leach Pad, also known as a Heap Leach Pad, is an engineered facility used in a process where valuable metals such as gold, silver, copper or uranium are extracted from ore. The ore is placed on a geomembrane liner and irrigated with a leaching solution. Cyanide solutions or various acids may be used as the leaching agent. During this process, the metal dissolves into the solution and is then collected at the bottom of the pad in a collection trench.

If the installed liner on a leach pad leaks, the dissolved metals can seep into the
ground instead of being collected in the recovery system. This means the mine continues to lose valuable process solution and money, but the most serious consequences are environmental, as hazardous cyanide may enter the subgrade together with the dissolved metals. In some cases, once such leaks are detected, mining operations may be suspended for an indefinite period.

In leach pads, either a permanent SENSOR DDS® leak monitoring
system can be used, or a one-time liner integrity test can be
performed on exposed and covered geomembranes.

Global Leader Since

SENSOR DDS® MIT Applied on a Leach Pad in an Asian Gold Mine

Cross-section of a leach pad, from bottom to top:

Compacted clay
HDPE geomembrane liner – 2.0 mm
Protective geotextile
Drainage layer – gravel – 50 cm
Ore

The size of this specific leach pad, where our technology was applied, was 300,500 m². A total of 582 liner defects were detected and precisely located. If such a high number of liner damages had not been identified before the leach pad was put into operation, the mine could have been losing thousands of dollars every day and could eventually have been shut down until the leaks were found and repaired.

The SENSOR DDS® MIT inspection of the exposed geomembrane took 27 days on this project. The client repaired the identified damage before it could cause a more serious problem. Sensor issued a watertightness certificate for the Leach Pad and a technical report containing recommendations on how to prevent future damage to the geomembrane.

Leach Pad

SENSOR DDS® Technology Applied to a Gold Mine Leach Pad

SENSOR DDS® MIT Applied on a Leach Pad in an Asian Gold Mine

Comprehensive Services by SensorGroup

Periodic Waterproofing Monitoring

Continuous Waterproofing Monitoring

Covered Geomembrane Testing

Exposed Geomembrane Arc Testing