Towards application of positioning systems in the mining industry

Abstract

Positioning and communication systems hold intriguing potentials in the context of the mining industry. The need for safety and environmental precautions in mining has grown clearer for governments and scientists across the world. This is in light of complex and hazardous mining situations which can be tackled by the advancement of science and technology. This paper discusses how positioning systems have enhanced mining operations' safety, productivity and environmental sustainability. The drawbacks of positioning systems in the mining industry are established and analysed by examining the influence this technology has had on the different operations in the mineral industry. The possibility of their utility for precise localisation in situations when no other techniques exist has been carefully evaluated for recent uses of these technologies in the mineral industry. Future study must address a few significant issues and gaps that have been identified.