TECHNOLOGY
expected to be central to the digitalization of the industry over the next decade .
Safety sensors A researcher at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba , Australia , has developed new super sensors that could significantly improve mining safety , in another clear example of technology redrawing the conventional mining environment .
Designed to prevent injury and death on mining sites , Dr Toan Dinh ’ s sensors detect early mechanical issues in oil and gas pipelines while being able to withstand harsh and corrosive environments – an ability that has even caught the attention of NASA .
Dr Dinh , a mechanical engineer at the University of Southern Queensland , has spent the past six years developing the sensors , which are made of silicon carbide . He says that they are five to 100 times smaller than the width of a single human hair , and that they perform " a thousand times better " than conventional sensors .
“ The current silicon technology can ’ t be used in harsh environments because they can ’ t survive a long time in conditions of high temperature and corrosion ,” Dr Dinh explains . “ The sensors I have developed can operate in up to 600 degrees Celsius for a wide range of applications , including oil and gas industries and aerospace technologies .”
Big data and spatial data visualisation Smart mines are mines where the major assets are digitized via embedded sensors that transmit data to a centralized location through a wireless network . The value of a smart mine lies in exploring the clear and robust data available across the mine workflow to provide realtime insights . Once analysed , the data can identify production issues , manage inventory and quality , track production and asset performance and costs . This can help mining companies make optimal decisions to generate efficiencies across its production and operations .
76 March 2021