When mine tunnels collapse, they can trap dozens of people underground. This can often be prevented by reinforcing tunnels, but if structural weaknesses go unnoticed, the consequences can be catastrophic. That鈥檚 where Matt Gubasta (Artsci鈥17) and Shelby Yee (Sc鈥16) come in. Their company, RockMass Technologies, helps mining companies better assess the risk through a data collection unit called the Axis Mapper.
They compare it to a point-and-shoot camera for structural geological mapping. With sensors to collect data about the features of a rock face, the unit can orient itself relative to the surface it is scanning. So it works underground, where GPS doesn鈥檛.
The RockMass co-founders were named to the 2021 Forbes 30 under 30 list in the manufacturing and industry category, which celebrates dynamic young entrepreneurs.
And the company鈥檚 roots are at Queen鈥檚 University.
The technology the Axis Mapper uses was developed in the Mining Systems Laboratory, and Ms. Yee learned of it during a Queen鈥檚 Innovation Centre networking event at the Grad Club, just off campus.
As a geological engineering graduate, she immediately understood its potential.
鈥淒uring my undergrad, I did a lot of manual structural mapping 鈥 with a pen, paper, and a compass. You always feel like you need five sets of hands and 10 times as much time,鈥 says Ms. Yee.
鈥淭he Axis Mapper does it with the push of a button.鈥
In collaboration with the mining systems laboratory, Mr. Gubasta and Ms. Yee began to explore the commercialization opportunity. The Queen鈥檚 Innovation Centre Summer Initiative helped them bring it to fruition.
鈥淭hey surrounded us with people who were trying to start a business and provided a network of experienced entrepreneurs,鈥 say the co-founders.
鈥淲e learned that people want to help. When you reach out to someone for their expertise, they usually try to make time. That lesson has served us well.鈥
