Sensing and Monitoring Technologies for Mines and Hazardous Areas

Sensing and Monitoring Technologies for Mines and Hazardous Areas: Monitoring and Prediction Technologies presents the fundamentals of mining related geotechnical risk and how the latest advances in sensing and data communication can be used both to prevent accidents and provide early warnings. Opencast mining operations involve huge quantities of overburden removal, dumping, and backfilling in excavated areas. Substantial increases in the rate of accumulation of waste dumps in recent years has resulted in greater height of dumps and also has given rise to the danger of dump failures as steeper open pit slopes are prone to failure. These failures lead to loss of valuable human lives and damage to mining machinery. This book presents the most recent advances in gas sensors, methane detectors, and power cut-off systems. It also introduces monitoring of the gas strata and environment, and an overview of the use of Internet of Things and cloud computing for mining sensing and surveillance purposes. Targeted at geotechnical and mining engineers, this volume covers the latest findings and technology to prevent mining accidents and mitigate the inherent risk of the activity.
- Presents complete details of a real-time slope stability monitoring system using wireless sensor networking and prediction technique based on multivariate statistical analysis of various parameters and analytical hierarchy process methods
- Discusses innovative ideas and new concepts of sensing technologies, mine transport surveillance, digital mining, and cloud computing to improve safety and productivity in mining industry
- Includes slope stability prediction software, downloadable through a companion website, which can be used for monitoring, analyzing, and storing different sensors and providing audio-visual, SMS, and email alerts
- Covers the latest findings and technology to prevent mining accidents and mitigate the inherent risk

Swadesh Chaulya is a scientist at CSIR-Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR), Dhanbad, India. His fields of research include design and development of monitoring, control and automation systems for mines and hazardous areas; geotechnical and environmental studies; and application of wireless communication technologies in underground mines. He completed his Ph.D. degree in the year 1997 and has worked on various projects sponsored by different ministries of India and the World Bank, including the development of wireless communication system for underground mines, tracking and monitoring system using RFID tags for disaster management, slope failure monitoring technique using wireless sensor networking, feasibility assessment model for underground coal gasification, and tracking system for controlling illegal mining and coal transportation. Presently he is working in various wireless sensor networking, environmental monitoring and surveillance projects sponsored by MCIT, Government of India.G. M. Prasad is Senior Principal Scientist in Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CSIR-CIMFR), Dhanbad, India. His areas of research are studies of various electrical and electronic properties of semiconductor materials, optical fiber communication, fiber-optic sensor development and communication system for mining and allied industries. He completed his Ph.D. degree in Applied Physics in the year 1997 from Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad. He has 24 years of experience in the field of communication, development of sensors, safe use of electrical and electronics equipment in mines, monitoring and up-gradation of various testing analysis and calibration related activities of the institute. He has worked on various research projects, sponsored by different ministries of India, such as development of optical fiber communication system for mines, slope failure monitoring technique using wireless sensor networking, feasibility assessment model for underground coal gasification, and tracking system for controlling illegal mining and coal transportation. Presently, he is working in various wireless sensor network, software development, and surveillance monitoring projects sponsored by MCIT, Government of India.

Chapter 1. Mechanism of slope failure and its monitoring techniques Chapter 2. Mine transport surveillance systems Chapter 3. Gas sensors for underground mines and hazardous areas Chapter 4. Local methane detector and power cut-off system Chapter 5. Integrated gas, strata and environment monitoring system Chapter 6. Digital mining technology using internet of things Chapter 7. Cloud computing technology and its application in mines