The effectiveness and productivity of mining operations are enhanced by automated mining machinery and technology. By its very nature, mining is a risky and hazardous activity. A few of the issues that make mining operations risky include the lack of enough working space, inadequate lighting, accumulation of hazardous waste and poisonous gases, metal, nonmetal, and toxic substance dust, radioactive materials, poor air quality, usage of explosives, and unstable roofs. However, the exposure of workers to risky underground and surface operations can be minimized with the aid of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and autonomous technologies. Machines are capable of monitoring the atmosphere on their own, sending signs and warnings, locating trouble spots, and operating constantly even in hazardous conditions. 

Due to technology’s tremendous opportunities, there has been more of an emphasis on mine automation and digitization recently. It has made our lives easier and more effective while also opening up new opportunities to improve them. Today’s businesses are all data-driven, and the upcoming sectors will all be technologically driven. Rapid technological change is being implemented in the mining environment in an effort to reinvent itself. Therefore, mines in the future would not resemble those we see today at all. High-end technology has the ability to open up new avenues for increasing productivity as the mining sector in UAE reaches a turning point today.

Emerging Technology Trends

Automation

Automation, and even completely automated mining sites, are essential to the mining industry’s future. Automation will boost operational effectiveness and assist in managing unforeseen occurrences, such as the effects of the pandemic, in the mining sector, as it will in any company. Such toughness will also be regarded as a sign of a sustainable company. In their pit-to-pit operations, the mining industry in UAE has begun deploying autonomous trucks and other equipment. A single remote operator may now manage numerous drill rigs at once, simplifying drilling systems. The need for human workers will decline as a result of such automation advancements. 

Drones

Mines are frequently found in extremely isolated locations, and theft, costly blunders, and deadly accidents can all occur at any time. Every year, mining businesses invest millions of dollars in safety measures and inspections to protect their workers, mined resources, and priceless assets. The ability to see everything that goes on each day in great detail is helpful for mining management. This allows them to better manage their fleet, track their more valuable assets, and monitor their KPI targets both historically and in real time. They can also monitor their personnel to make sure everyone is functioning within established constraints. An “eye in the sky” is immensely helpful for increasing productivity, security, and safety. Drones can securely access and evaluate the mine’s and quarry’s riskier sections, providing management with in-depth information about current operations and any necessary corrective actions. By having a bird’s eye view of stockpiles, mined commodities can also be more effectively secured. Any number of staff can access this sophisticated surveillance footage,

Workforce Tracking

Wearable technology advancements make them the perfect tool for mining labour tracking. They are particularly helpful for improving operator-based care and safety, particularly for underground mines, as well as field maintenance and real-time machine inspection instructions. These wearables enable real-time staff visibility and RFID personnel tracking, making it possible to locate critical employees quickly. They can also be used to track employee time and attendance records and determine areas where productivity can be improved.

Robotics

The mining industry currently uses robotic equipment to carry out a variety of jobs, including blasting, drilling, hauling, loading, safety work, and mineral sampling. The reopening and repurposing of closed mines is another application for mining robots. They can install IoT sensors for ongoing monitoring and data collection on confined surface areas that humans are unable to reach. Mining has only begun to delve into the possibilities of new applications for robotics. We are still a long way from complete automation, though, because robots don’t currently work in a coordinated, cooperative manner. For the foreseeable future, they will have to collaborate with people.

Artificial Intelligence

Data is utilized to plan, optimize, and integrate activities across a mining value chain, making it so important today that it can be compared to any other treasure the company mines. Additionally, ML uses algorithms that get better over time by being exposed to more data. As a result, mining companies can use AI to transform into insight-driven businesses that use data to achieve important goals. As a result, the industry’s operations are improved, making it safer, more lucrative, and more ecologically friendly.

Conclusion

The safety, productivity, and efficiency of mining operations are all improved in a variety of ways by the increasing digitalization of mines. This includes not just the adoption of cutting-edge technology but also a shift to a more digital mindset inside mining businesses. Companies that lead the way in adopting a digital strategy are better able to locate and map mineral reserves with improved precision and recoverability, for instance, and are more able to manage their workforce and important assets.