SPECIAL FOCUS: CONNECTED MINES
Next-generation technologies are improving the recovery of resources
CONNECTED DEVELOPMENT
Alastair MacLeod details why failsafe connectivity is key to unlocking the value of the Industrial Internet of Things in mining
T
he Industrial Internet of Tings (IIoT) has been transforming global industries and driving digitalisation for some years
now – the mining sector is no exception. From remote support for technicians and crews maintaining machinery to minimise downtime, to environmental monitoring of water and air quality, the IIoT eco-system is delivering efficiencies and productivity to meet the demands of an ever-evolving mining landscape. But everything is underpinned by
reliable and resilient connectivity. After all, fragmented data and gaps can give a wildly inaccurate picture of operations and can lead to serious safety issues. Here, we argue that despite the myriad of measurable benefits IIoT offers,
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everything will fall at the first hurdle if connectivity isn’t addressed as a priority. Recent years have brought innovation
across the international mining community. For example, initiatives such as electric mining, where a commitment to move away from diesel fleets and towards electric and hybrid vehicles, both above and underground, is helping to pave the way for a more productive and sustainable industry. Likewise, evolving technologies are being employed to enhance operations – we’ve seen a rise in the use of augmented reality (AR) to improve productivity, training and worker safety through remote operations. AR is also enabling remote distance support so engineers based at HQ have visuals and can effectively collaborate with on-site operatives.
As the industry continues to innovate to meet challenges head on, IIoT remains at its heart. Given the often hostile and remote nature of the environments associated with mining, the ability to monitor and analyse data, enabling quick, effective business decisions and automation would not be possible without the rapid, real-time delivery of data.
A CONNECTED MINE IS A SMART MINE Smart mining projects are anticipated to be increased threefold, according to Ericsson’s ‘Connected Mining Report’ of 2020, where it’s projected that 25% of mines will embrace autonomous operations by 2025. Te biggest challenge, however, is how data can reliably be collated and sent, especially given the remote nature of
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