The Future of Mining Safety: Real-Time Strata Control Monitoring

Sultan Azam

Assistant professor

Mining engineering department

sultan.azam@kalingauniversity.ac.in

The underground mining industry is hazardous and difficult, with exposure to harmful gases and unstable ground conditions. Strata control, which evaluates and manages the stability of the mine’s roof, walls, and floor, is essential for ensuring the safety and productivity of underground mining activities. The use of IoT technology can significantly increase the effectiveness of strata control monitoring by providing real-time information on the stability of the mine.

IoT is a network of linked machines, sensors, and gadgets that talk to one another to exchange information and carry out activities. By putting sensors in various places throughout the mine, IoT can be used to monitor the stability of the strata in underground mining. These sensors can broadcast their collected data to a central control room, where it can be evaluated by machine learning algorithms to spot trends and foretell future dangers. Decisions about the mine’s strata control, such as modifying the support systems, can then be made using this knowledge.

The use of IoT technology in strata control monitoring offers many advantages, including higher safety, cost savings, increased effectiveness, and better decision-making. IoT can assist identify potential hazards by delivering real-time data on the state of the ground, allowing miners to take preventative action and avert accidents. Automating data collecting and analysis can also assist lower the expenses associated with manual monitoring while improving efficiency and decision-making.

However, there are several difficulties in implementing IoT technology in underground mining, including connectivity and upkeep. Data transmission from IoT sensors to the control room is challenging since underground mining operations are sometimes situated in remote locations with poor or no connectivity. The extreme circumstances of underground mining can also cause IoT sensors to malfunction, necessitating regular maintenance and replacement. The safety and security of mining operations may be compromised by IoT sensors’ vulnerability to cyberattacks.

In conclusion, IoT technology has the potential to revolutionize how underground mining operations monitor strata control. IoT can raise safety, save costs, boost efficiency, and improve decision-making by supplying real-time data on the state of the environment. However, the implementation of IoT in underground mining presents several challenges, including connectivity, power supply, maintenance, and security. These challenges must be overcome through creative solutions and cooperation between industrial stakeholders if the IoT is to fully realize its potential for strata control monitoring.