Accelerating the digitalisation and automation of Europe’s mining sector
Most industrial sectors have increased automation and digitalisation at an accelerating rate over recent decades. However, the mining sector is more traditional and has been slower to adopt relevant processes that promise enhanced efficiency and safety and improved worker health. This is now changing and the EU is fully on board, strategically supporting the digitalisation of underground mining. Within this context, the illuMINEation project developed a versatile and flexible industrial internet of things (IIoT) platform for mining applications.
IIoT with intelligent data management and analysis
Extensive digitalisation and automation revolve around the collection, transmission, processing and use of large amounts of data. “IlluMINEation deployed a range of sensor solutions, multi-faceted digitisation approaches and comprehensive in-depth data analysis. This enables improved understanding of ore grade distribution and geological conditions, facilitates comprehensive rock stress and environmental monitoring, and supports predictive maintenance of mining equipment,” explains project coordinator Gernot Loidl of the University of Leoben. All data is processed through the illuMINEation IIoT platform. The multi-level platform enables robust and intelligent data management and analysis at individual operational sites (edge nodes), within individual mining operations (fog layer) or across multiple mines at corporate level (cloud). Furthermore, the platform leverages browser-based, open-source visualisation solutions that can be easily adapted to specific mining use-case scenarios. “The open-source approach simplifies licence management and reduces costs. The ‘low-code’ implementation (model-driven drag-and-drop application development) facilitates dashboard customisation. The 3D capabilities support digital twins and augmented, virtual and synthetic reality, and are available on mobile devices,” summarises Loidl.
Communication in a 4D mining environment
A wide range of signal transmission options are already in use in underground mining operations. These include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LoRa (short for ‘long range’, an emerging ultra-long-distance wireless transmission scheme) and LoRaWAN. The illuMINEation project used selected technologies on a case-by-case basis. “To further increase the communication range in complex underground tunnel systems to more than 1.5 kilometres, the project developed a multi-hop data transmission system based on LoRa technology,” notes Loidl. Mining is a 4D environment that changes not only in space but in time. As the underground tunnels and galleries change over time with mining progression, the network infrastructure is continuously maintained, rebuilding or removing components to reflect changes over time.
Improving mine sustainability, efficiency, safety and profitability
“The technologies developed allow for better control of the rock mass and improved knowledge of the geology and the orebody, resulting in more efficient resource extraction with less effort and increased workplace safety,” Loidl says. The project also tested and deployed autonomous drones to inspect hazardous areas and developed a system to detect human movement near mining equipment to avoid potential collisions. “All the outcomes of illuMINEation improve the sustainability and profitability of mining operations by addressing occupational health and safety performance, environmental impacts, efficient resource extraction and economic operations,” Loidl concludes. All 22 project partners from seven European countries – academic institutions, research institutions, original equipment manufacturers and mining companies – have implemented new technologies based on illuMINEation outcomes into their workflows, products and research portfolios. This broad base of experts together with five real use cases and the open-source, low-code approach should provide a strong foundation for the continuing expansion of digitalisation and automation of European mining with benefits for all.
Keywords
illuMINEation, mining, digitalisation, IoT, automation, mines, IIoT, industrial IoT, LoRa, drones
