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Data Analytics for Utilities

Mining facilities across the globe face more challenges than ever. With each passing industrial revolution, the mining industry has evolved with it. And as technology emerges center stage in this new digital world, mining enterprises are starting to take the digital mine seriously.

In today’s climate, growing concerns on mining’s environmental impact, shrinking profit margins and wild cost volatility, not to mention price pressure, on top of demands for customization are all serious hurdles for mining operators. The industry is being squeezed for knowledge attrition, better transparency, compressed cycle times and much more. What if a digital mine was the solution to each of these obstacles?

Modern mines are collecting swathes of data every day. Without the appropriate digital infrastructure designed to sort and analyze data, though, this physical data is left to collect dust. It takes reimagining how industrial companies operate their plants, deliver their products and every other step throughout their supply chain. 

A digital mine provides the connected technology solutions a company needs to optimize its operations, reduce any unplanned downtime and enable predictive, proactive and preventive processes.

As an enterprise, you’re limited by your weakest performing plant. What if each plant always performed at its most optimal levels?

 

The Value in the Digital Mine

In the mining sector, digital effectiveness is not only a top risk but also a top priority. There’s a disconnect between what industrial digital transformation can do for the industry.

While there’s clearly much potential for advancements in mining technology, enterprises struggle to embrace the ever-forward expansion of this tech. Automated haulage, GPS technology, plant control systems and mobile broadband were the mining sector’s introduction into the digital mine. In this sense, the industry has been digital mining for over 50 years already.

This is merely the next phase into the digital mine. Enterprises can anticipate improved operations, safety, performance, reliability, availability and sustainability through this suite of technologies. Optimizing mine operations and improving equipment reliability through predictive analytics and machine learning will pave the path to a more efficient mining industry.

More Refined Automation

Safety is a top concern within the mining industry, and it plays into why remote operations and autonomous equipment are such a key focal point. Trains, drills, trucks – no matter the machinery, remote operations can help reduce costs, increase productivity and, most importantly, improve operator safety.

Transitioning each mine into an automated facility can take an investment that your smaller enterprise doesn’t yet have. Fortunately, there are still technology solutions that may be more within your means. Instead of transitioning all mining plants in your enterprise, you can consider automation as an option for your newest mine. Oftentimes, you can leverage the investments made by service providers and equipment manufacturers to incorporate automation more readily into the operation.

Digital Twins Improve the Value Chain

Picture a digitized model of any assets, physical environments and other geological observations. These models are updated constantly from location-based mobile devices and IoT sensors on the physical counterpart.

Digital twin software can be focused on assets that hold the greatest value, a specific area that needs key focus or it can be used to cover all assets and operations. Regardless, it can offer simulations of future outcomes or events, allowing for more precise predictions and better planning. Especially when considering the design and outcome of new operations, digital twin software is integral for the digital mine.

Real-Time Analytics

The advancements in the digital mine open a connected network of highly capable, low-cost, data-capturing sensors. These IoT sensors are what give us real-time data to then build comprehensive data analytics. This enables more integration across departments, allowing for a more seamless, collaborative and efficient enterprise.

Wearable devices also become relevant in the mining industry thanks to advances in analytics. Operators and field maintenance teams can use wearable tech for real-time instructions during machine inspections. Not only does this save time and effort on the operator’s part, but it also increases their safety and their level of care towards the machines they’re inspecting.

Sustainability, Connectivity, & Optimization

Decision-making support, integrated operational planning and automated control execution are at the forefront of the digital mine. Data-driven insights improve decision support and planning anywhere along the supply chain.

Simply through data collection, the digital mine can work as an enterprise’s nervous system. In every department of an enterprise’s infrastructure – production, engineering, finance, IT, HR, marketing – value can be found with technological transformation.

 

What Does the Digital Mine Mean for the Mining Industry?

Ultimately, the digital mine is a series of digital strategies and a suite of technologies to create real value. It can transform entire operations through deployable, machine learning tools and other actionable solutions.

Data-driven decisions and real-time analysis are a reality for the companies that invest in this next industrial revolution. Referred to as industry 4.0, this new era refers to the industrial shift towards refined automation, safer work environments and much more.

 

FAQs

What is mine technology in the mining industry?

Mine technology is the technology used to mine minerals from the earth. This includes the methods and tools, as well as the knowledge that the industry uses to find, extract and process metal and minerals from the earth.

What is digital transformation in the mining industry?

Digital transformation in mining is the use of technology to improve the efficiency of mining. As the digital transformation age progresses, the industry makes use of more cutting-edge and further innovative tech to lessen risk, reduce the cost of mineral or metal extraction and the cost of maintenance and, overall, improve health and safety.

What are four types of mining?

There are four types of mining: in-situ mining, surface mining, underground mining and open-pit (open surface) mining.