Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things are improving the mining sector by making it more convenient and efficient. Similarly to smartphones and smart homes, these technologies learn behaviour patterns, recognize voice commands, and gather data, bringing ‘Smart Mines’ closer to reality.
How AI Innovation is Transforming Mining
1. Improving mine site efficiency
AI-powered technologies are now being employed in mining operations to improve resource estimation accuracy. These systems use geological data trends and past mining data to offer precise estimations of mineral reserves, allowing for better-planned investment, planning of production, and resource allocation. AI can streamline operations, optimize asset management, and increase efficiency and safety. It also encourages environmental responsibility and sustainability within the mining industry. Overall, artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the mining business.
2. Overcoming the Skill Barrier
Gavin Lind, CEO of the Australian Minerals & Energy Skills Alliance (AUSMESA), believes AI has the potential to transform the mining industry. AI can simplify jobs, boost efficiency, and attract new employees. However, extreme risk aversion might impede progress. Countries that adopt AI gradually gain a competitive advantage in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Australia’s stringent regulations may deter new innovators, while sustaining a low-risk barrier may stymie growth. Without AI, mining businesses may have difficulties with resource estimation, extraction optimization, and environmental effect reduction.
What is the role of AI in developing mining or smart mines?
- Helps mining corporations organize and comprehend the patterns that may emerge from the massive volume of data collected. Mining corporations can then utilize this information to make decisions.
- Helps corporations find deposits with great accuracy. This boosts the strike rate, saving time and money.
- AI technology may be integrated into drones to increase the quality of aerial surveys and provide more accurate assessments of the environment and geography. Finally, an AI model can be trained to select which sites are ideal for exploration, reducing the quantity of manpower required.
- AI technology is used to automate machinery. This may include self-driving cars, drills, and haulage systems. Autonomous haulage systems (AHS) have been found to increase productivity by over 20%.
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What is the role of IoT in developing mining or smart mines?
- Smart Mines will be built in the same way that homes are, with built-in appliances that can communicate with one another, such as a fridge that sends a notification to your phone when you run out of milk or instructs your oven to begin preheating when you select the ingredients for a specific recipe.
- Smart Mines are being built to start production by 2021.
- The mine will be built with machinery and equipment linked via the “Internet of Things,” which connects all aspects of the mining value chain.
- Mine operators will be able to control huge portions of the mine fully remotely, as well as get real-time data and analyse it more quickly than ever before, allowing them to make decisions and uphold safe practices.
- The Smart Mine’s “Internet of Things” will include wearables, such as safety goggles or watches, that can offer data on employee security, progress, fitness, and location, in addition to management information to miners.
What are the uses of AI in Mining?
AI has become an important tool in mining, notably for exploration and resource estimation. Traditional approaches can be time-consuming and expensive, but AI-powered technologies such as ML algorithms and data analytics have revolutionized the process. These tools use massive amounts of geological data, such as historical drilling records, satellite photos, and sensor data, to detect potential mineral resources. AI improves decision-making by quickly finding potential mining locations, lowering the chance of exploratory failures, and saving time and resources. AI in the exploration process can help mining businesses uncover minerals and commodities faster and more efficiently by detecting patterns and anomalies in data that human geologists might otherwise miss. Artificial intelligence has altered the mining industry, resulting in a new era of efficiency, safety, and sustainability.
Conclusion
Finally, the mining industry is approaching a revolutionary age in which all traditional mining processes will be gradually transitioned to incorporate Artificial Intelligence technologies and the “Internet of Things”. It is critical to stay up to date on these developments to understand whether you, as an industry professional, can ensure the future of your chosen field.
