Abstract

Developments in Geospatial Enabled Automated tools and Techniques for improving Safety and Productivity in Metal Mines
The implementation of novel systems and adoption of improvised equipment in mines help mining companies in two important ways: enhanced mine productivity and improved worker safety. Safety is one of the key factors driving the trend to automation. With the advent of new autonomous equipment used in the mine, the inefficiencies are reduced by limiting human inconsistencies and error. By developing and commercializing automated mining technologies for continuous mining equipment, the productivity of each mining machine improves and the operators can run the machine from a safe distance. Technological developments in the field of computer science, information technology and satellite technology have created new hopes for surveying and geoinformatics. Satellite Imagery and aerial photography has proven to be an important tool in assessing mineral exploration tenements. With the development of the modern surveying technology, Remote Sensing (RS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) which is abbreviated as “3S” technology, plays an important role in resource and environment information acquisition, management and analysis evaluation in industrial and mining area. This paper is focused on issues pertaining to the recent developments in tools and technologies and their applications in deep underground metal mines with special reference to surveying and geoinformatics for safe mining operations and increased productivity.