Development of a GIS system for mining data management and integration for proactive decision making

Abstract

Mining activities serve as an imperative source of raw minerals and metals, playing a significant role in both industrial and domestic applications. However, these activities, among others, are also responsible for seismic incidents and rock bursts that can lead to serious injuries, lifelong disabilities, and the loss of lives among mineworkers. Annually, these incidents result in the casualties of approximately a thousand workers in subsurface mining operations. In 2005, 203 people lost their lives in a mine accident in Sago, China. The following year, 17 people died in West Virginia, and in 2009, 73 people lost their lives in GuiJiao, China. These tragic incidents underscore the urgent need for monitoring and management systems that can help mitigate the risks associated with such events. Therefore, enhancing occupational safety management standards and creating a safer working environment for mineworkers through effective monitoring is crucial. To enhance mine safety, various research studies have proposed a digital dashboard application with innovative emerging data analytics and visualization capabilities. A digital dashboard is an intelligent communication system used to collect data from a network of multiple sensors, aiding in the near real-time monitoring, analysis, and visualization of data for underground mining operations. This research study convincingly demonstrates the valuable sensor-based monitoring of the underground environment in near real-time, encompassing factors such as ground movement, ventilation, temperature, humidity, and toxic gases within the mining industry. These sensors continuously generate a bulk of heterogeneous data, enabling management to identify trends and patterns that can inform planning and management decisions. The developed systems incorporate spatial modeling and analysis tools, providing assistance to quantify spatial and temporal processes, generate case scenarios, and enhance safety standards for mines.