How technology impacts the mining industry

Aluminum, copper, lithium… the huge need for metals in the world leads to an increase in the number of technological innovations in the mining industry.

The considerable technological growth in the mining industry has led to a rapid evolution towards automation and other technological advances in the mining sector. This change is expected to increase productivity while reducing labour costs.

In this article, we will discover the impact of technology on the mining industry as well as the current state of technology in this field.

mining-technologies

What is the impact of technology on the mining industry ?

New technologies in the mining industry have led a revolution in the sector, among these revolutionary changes are:

- An increase in productivity:

The main advantage of integrating new technologies into mines is increased productivity. An increase in efficiency and performance due mainly to the involvement of technologies in mines while limiting expenses.

- An improvement in safety:

Automation has helped improve the safety of construction sites, with the power of artificial intelligence, miners are no longer required to work in dangerous working conditions. New technologies are now responsible for reducing the frequency of accidents, incidents, and injuries related to health and safety.

- Reduction of environmental damage:

The environmental impacts of mining materials extraction and energy consumption are reduced by the use of new technologies.

What are the most popular technologies in the mining industry?

Several mining solutions are widely used today in the mining sector, these technologies have strongly contributed to the growth and progression of mining operations, leading to larger mineral products and overall productivity.

Discover the most popular technologies in the home industry:

- Artificial Intelligence:

Artificial intelligence (AI) solutions enable companies to generate data time-saving, making it easier to make decisions with information based on faster and more accurate data.

The use of AI in the mining sector to help companies easily detect mineral locations using high-performance technologies. AI has also led to minimizing costs, reducing environmental impact and improving safety and reliability.

- Automation:

One of the most important technological trends in the mining industry is automation, automated technologies that increase productivity, health, and safety.

Automation can be found in several types of mining technologies:

  • Trucks.
  • Site monitoring.
  • Drilling systems.
  • Ventilation systems.
  • Long distance trains.

- Drone :

The use of drones in the mining industry is essential, they improve the efficiency of mining sites and quarry management by providing accurate data on the state of the site.

Other typical applications of drones in the mining sector include:

  • Monitoring and mapping: making images of open-pit mines and quarries. Then they use photogrammetry software to generate 3D renderings with these images, which companies often use to create realistic topographical maps, digital terrain models, etc. to monitor site changes over time.
  • Safety management: Drones collect data on hazardous areas to reduce the risk of exposure to these hazards.
  • Stock management: Estimating the volume of stocks is a complication for mining companies because of their changing areas and heights. Drones are the solution for this problem, the use of advanced software allows to generate calculations, models, and measurements.

-> With so many emerging technological innovations in the mining industry, this field certainly continues to grow and optimize its processes. Many current mining technologies are expected to continue to impact the industry, as well as several trends that will shape the future of mining.

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