Advances in automated technology have improved safety in underground coal mining significantly, removing even more miners from possibly dangerous situations. Resources Safety and Health Queensland found that in the last five years, 356 severe incidents occurred in both underground and surface coal mines in Queensland with 10 individuals losing their lives as a result.
The advanced technology, called ExScan, was developed by the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in collaboration with the Australian Coal Industry’s Research Program, which financed the project. CSIRO is an Australian government agency involved in scientific research.
The technology in question uses 3D lasers to map tunnels, cavities and voids underground in real time. In mines, it scans longwalls to help produce coal, without workers having to go underground or work next to heavy machinery.
A senior principal research engineer at CSIRO, Dr. Mark Dunn, revealed that the technology afforded operators a view of what was underground without having to visit the site.
ExScan was first used in a trial at a mine located in the northern region of Blackwater in central Queensland a few years ago. Following its success, ExScan was adopted for use in at least 10 mines across Australia as well as in other countries, including the United States.
Michael Condie, an automation coordinator at the Oaky Creek mine owned by Glencore, stated that remote mining of the longwall was an objective of underground mining and assisted in the production of metallurgical coal. Condie revealed that this technology allows him to mine coal with the click of a button.
Duane Witkowski, an automation engineer, revealed that the advancements made in technology that enabled automated mining were not something he imagined would happen when he started out in the industry decades ago.
Dunn also highlighted the need for safety, noting that one of the primary objectives in their mining research and advances was to ensure that there were no operators working underground in mines in the next few years. He added that getting the utilities and tools adopted by the industry was crucial to improving safety.
Dunn then revealed that the technology was being trialed in the civil engineering industry space and, in particular, tunneling as well as in open-cut mines. He noted that this technology could be useful in other environments, and there would always be need for remote operations systems as the presence of any technologies or sensors that could help people control equipment in possibly dangerous environments would always be valuable.
As these technologies get widespread adoption among the major coal miners such as Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE: BTU), accidents in coal mining will be few and far between due to the enhanced safety of all mining operations.
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