Panel
Panel turns up in 2 fields: geosynthetics, mining. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Panel in geosynthetics
One continuous piece of geomembrane as deployed, numbered and tracked through seaming and testing.
Each roll unrolled, or each piece cut from it, becomes a panel with a number marked on the sheet and on the panel layout drawing. Seams are named by the panels they join, and every repair, test and destructive sample is logged against those numbers. Layouts run seams up and down slopes rather than across them and keep them out of corners and sumps.
"Panel 47 goes up the slope next, so get the trial weld done before lunch."
Panel in mining
A specific block or district of a coal seam isolated by solid barrier pillars.
A discrete section of an underground mine laid out for extraction, separated from adjacent sections by thick, unmined pillars of coal or rock. In panel mining, each block has its own ventilation and haulage systems. This isolation contains fires, gas outbursts, or roof collapses, preventing a localized disaster from spreading to the rest of the mine.
"We finish pulling pillars in panel four next week, then we seal it and move the crew to the new district."