Mining and extraction
The size, terrain and complexity of a mine makes it both critical to have secure, reliable and low latency communications and infrastructure whilst also increasing the complexity of providing the infrastructure. Not only can mines be subject to weather and temperature extremes but elements may be underground or impacted by blasting.
Networks need to provide low latency and reliable connectivity to support automation and assisted vehicles and machinery, whilst delivering complete coverage across the mine’s footprint to connect and protect personnel and visitors. Enabling both business and mission-critical (MCPTx) voice and video.
Based on the technologies available, here are some of the use cases that a private network can deliver:
Voice communications
- Connected worker: supporting increased productivity and worker safety
- Mission-critical (MCPTx) technology to support remote workers, increasing their safety and mental wellbeing
- Mining operations: delivering clear and uninterrupted voice communication between operators and support teams to coordinate activities and respond to any operational challenges
- Remote site management: reliable voice communication for managers overseeing remote extraction sites, allowing them to remain connected with field teams and make informed and real-time decisions
- Safety monitoring: safety officers to monitor and guide workers in hazardous environments, ensuring compliance with safety protocols and procedures
Video applications
- Predictive maintenance: Using video feeds to monitor machinery and equipment, identifying potential issues before they lead to downtime.
- Employee and asset location: Cameras on drones, to view remote areas to locate people and machinery as part of routine inspection or for urgent support.
- Remote assistance: expert guidance provided to field workers through live video feeds, enabling real-time troubleshooting and support
- Security and surveillance: real-time monitoring and incident detection to increase security and safety, detecting any unauthorized access or potential hazards
- Connected worker: with mission-critical (MCPTx) video to provide support to remote workers
- Remote guidance and monitoring: of machinery including drilling machinery or vehicles, supported by real-time video streams delivering real-time precision and safety
- Environmental monitoring: using drone-mounted cameras to monitor environmental conditions around extraction sites, ensuring compliance with regulations and minimizing environmental impact
Augmented Reality
- Remote experts field workers are guided through complex procedures, supported by visual overlays and real-time communication, delivering both on-the-job training, and increasing efficiency (one expert covering a greater footprint) also retaining experts who may be less willing to travel to visit the far reaches of a site in poor weather or at inhospitable times of the day
- Enhanced training experience for specialist workers - trainees can experience a full 360-degree simulated environment
- Remote monitoring: of mining equipment and operations in real-time, providing visual data overlays to improve decision-making
- Remote expertise: experts can quickly assess the status of infrastructure, such as leaks, pipes, and tanks, and decide on the urgency of actions
- Remote monitoring: of equipment and operations in real-time, providing visual data overlays to improve decision-making
- Maintenance and repair: providing field operatives with real-time, hands-free access to technical manuals and instructions, improving efficiency and accuracy
Automation
- Autonomous vehicles and machinery for excavation, drilling, and transportation, enhancing safety and productivity
- Remote monitoring: of extraction sites, providing real-time data on production levels, equipment status, and environmental conditions
- Environmental monitoring: automated monitoring of environmental conditions and emissions to ensure compliance with regulations and minimize environmental impact
- Mining automation: machinery equipped with AI to optimize operations, reduce human error and wastage, and increase efficiency
- Remote monitoring: of sites, providing real-time data on production levels, equipment status, and weather conditions
- Environmental monitoring: automated monitoring of environmental conditions and emissions to ensure compliance with regulations and minimize impact
- Autonomous vehicles: trucks and machinery for material transport and excavation, improving efficiency and safety – the vehicles can operate 24x7 in harsh environments and remote locations without human intervention
0%
of enterprises improved worker safety through geofencing and alarms, connected worker, and robotics
0%
of enterprises saw reduced operational costs through robotic & mechatronics, industrial IoT and condition monitoring
0%
of enterprises had increased productivity through connected worker, video analytics, and worker safety apps
0%
of enterprises delivered reduced emissions through condition monitoring, drones and industrial IoT
