Drones in Mining Industry: How drones Boost Safety & Efficiency
The drone for the mining market leverages advanced drone technology to improve efficiency and safety. Not only can they collect data in real-time, but they also offer vastly improved mapping capabilities.Because of drones’ utility, the current market size was valued at about USD 131.3 million last year. By 2030, it’s expected to reach USD 1.01 billion.Drones offer many advantages that make operations much easier.
UAVs, also known as Drones, have found multiple applications within the mining industry such as:
Surveillance:
Drones do real time surveillance of mining locations making it easier for companies to rectify any problems before they arise.
3D modeling:
Drones help make 3D models of the terrain before and after blasting to determine the quantities of minerals to be mined and more.
Ground condition checking:
Drones could do the work of manpower to check ground conditions and tunnel walls as well as blasting sites to assess dangers without putting the employees at risk.
What is Mining Safety?
Mining includes plenty of health and safety hazards. Various factors, such as exposure to dangerous chemicals, unplanned energy releases, and even mineral hazards are still ever-present concerns.
Mining safety is all about identifying and minimizing risks to miners. Today, mining drones are used extensively to make sure that miners return home safe and healthy.
These are the hazards that miners regularly face:
Ventilation – Ventilation and airflow is a significant concern since sub-surface mines cause exposure to gases, heat, and dust.
Noise – Because miners use equipment strong enough to break through rock, they are also at a high risk of hearing loss.
Gas ignition – Methane gas is a common source of ignition in mines. Without proper safety precautions, it can start extensive coal dust explosions.
Heat and dust exposure – High temperatures and humidity can result in heat stroke, while dust exposure can cause long-term lung problems. Mining with drones minimizes this exposure for miners.
What are the Biggest Trends Influencing Mining?
Mining drones have revitalized the industry with the help of AI-powered technology. They offer users excellent efficiency in operating large mine sites, more informed decision-making, quarry management, and more.
Here are the biggest trends in mining today:
1. Mining Exploration
Drone technology redefines how mine exploration is done. Drones can turn life-threatening operations into efficient operations at a fraction of the cost. UAV data can save time, money, and lives!
2. Haulage Road Optimization
Haul road networks are essential in every mining operation. Drones can capture aerial data to obtain much-needed information on length, slopes, and turning angles at a regular rate.
3. Surveying and Mapping
In the mining industry, surveying and mapping are the most time-consuming activities that need regular implementation. Mining with drone surveys is cheaper and offers higher-quality data than piloted planes.
4. Tailing Dam Monitoring
Aerial imagery helps planners and operators regularly monitor the preservation of tailing dams. Doing so prevents damage to assets and interruptions to regular operations due to uncontrolled sediment flow.
How Mining Drones Improve Safety in Mining Operations
One of the biggest reasons why drones are used in mining is because of the hazards that miners regularly encounter. Today’s best technologies not only bring safe, remote operation but also drastically improved efficiency.
Here are the ways drones are improving safety in mining operations around the world:
1. Safety Inspection and Monitoring
Drones are used for the safety inspection of mines and on-site processing plants. They can survey open pit and underground mines to assess onsite conditions and check for potential hazards continually.
Drones for mining and monitoring can be effective in the following:
- Haulage road design – Aside from monitoring heavy traffic conditions, drones can also assess road conditions to help engineers determine if infrastructure changes are needed.
- Environmental monitoring – Responsible mining operations include mitigating their environmental impacts. Drones can monitor stability to prevent potential chemical leaks and runoff.
Processing plant monitoring – Drones can be used to inspect on-site equipment and machinery without stopping operations. With reduced downtime, mining operations stay profitable as a result.
2. Mine Development
Mining operations aren’t just expensive but also dangerous. Processes like stability analysis, surface mapping, and so on, used to require miners to be exposed to hazardous conditions.
The good news is drone mining makes that risk unnecessary today. They are more efficient at accessing hazardous areas and are especially useful for investigating the condition of disused areas.
4. Tailing Dam Monitoring
One of the biggest reasons why drones are used in mining is because of the hazards that miners regularly encounter. Today’s best technologies not only bring safe, remote operation but also drastically improved efficiency.
Here are the ways drones are improving safety in mining operations around the world:
4. Tailing Dam Monitoring
One of the biggest reasons why drones are used in mining is because of the hazards that miners regularly encounter. Today’s best technologies not only bring safe, remote operation but also drastically improved efficiency.
Here are the ways drones are improving safety in mining operations around the world:
Book a Live Demo with Us Today!
Drones offer many advantages that make operations much easier, such as excellent efficiency, lower costs, more informed decision-making, and more.The various features and benefits of mining drones, such as ZenaDrone 1000, make them essential assets to every mining company. For those looking to transform their regular operations, there’s no better time to get started than now.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What industries benefit the most from using drones in mining?
Nearly every industry in the mining sector can take advantage of the benefits drones can offer. However, certain industries, like coal, gold, and rare earth metals in particular, benefit greatly from the use of drones.
What are the biggest challenges of using drones in mining?
There are quite a few hurdles when it comes to using drones for mining. These include, but are not limited to, regulatory issues, weather dependence, and especially data processing.
How much do drones for mining cost?
While drones are becoming more accessible as technology improves, they still remain a significant investment. Basic drones can set companies back about $1-5,000, while industrial drones with advanced software cost about $20-100,000.
How do drones ensure accuracy on maps and models?
In addition to drones’ onboard RTK (real-time kinematic)/PPK (post-processed kinematic) technology, surveyors also use additional methods to “ground-truth” data.
How do drone solutions integrate with existing workflows?
While many worksites operate based on their own “local grid”, surveyors and software can convert and export drone data accordingly. By doing so, less time is spent simply moving data into other existing applications.
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