How Does The Mining Industry Use Technology To Help Them?

Technology has been developing at such a fast rate that it can be hard to keep up with all the ways it is benefitting out lives. New and emerging technological advancements in the mining industry are among some of the most interesting and influential of our time. While in the past the entire process had to be conducted through manual efforts and took a very long time to complete projects, today these problems are relatively non-existent. Technology has meant that miners can now reap the rewards of improved productivity, better safety regulations and makes the entire process more cost-effective. A report issued recently has highlighted the following technology that is set to massively alter the face of the mining industry and mining equipment in the coming years:

Improved Remote Mining Operations

Enhanced communication is something that many miners are looking forward to becoming part of their everyday work as it will significantly impact on mine safety and better manage the way that mines are managed. Mobile internet connections in mines will make remote mining far more facilitated.

Automation

As with many things today, the mining industry is set to become more automated than ever before. This will allow for more streamlined mining process and will also improve the safety of miners too. The demand of today’s market conditions means that efficiency is more important than ever before so something as simple as automatic conveyor belts could significantly improve the rate at which land is mined. Robots are becoming a recurring feature in many industries that are looking forward to modern technological assistance.

Cloud Based Software

The introduction of cloud software ‘Software As A Service’ means that mining companies will be better able to better manage their data, allowing for improved time management and efficiency. When it comes to the handling of data, consistency is key, which is why this technology is set to transform the industry in ways that were inconceivable a few years ago.

Storing Energy

One of the most important areas of focus in mining in recent years has been energy control and energy storage. As you can imagine, it takes a huge amount of power and energy to mine the ground which is why technology has played such an important part in the whole process of reducing diesel use and minimising carbon footprints.

3D Printing

It seems there no industry that the development of 3D printing has yet to have a massive impact on. 3D printing, if used in the right way can solve a vast amount of the problems witnessed on mining sites. 3D printing can help to issue of mining sites spending time waiting for spare parts or broken parts from being delivered, particularly if the mining site is a long way away.

Improved Materials

Over time, technology has enabled the mining industry to develop and test new materials in order to improve the strength and conductivity of its machinery. Investment into the development of materials means that work can be completed more effectively and efficiently and helps to cut down on maintenance costs too!