Sensor based management information system for dumpers for Indian mines

Abstract

Mining is the backbone of any industrial activity. Mother nature has bestowed India with good deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone, bauxite, manganese and chromite ores. Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economies in the world today. To fulfill 8-10 % growth target, Indian mining industry has to increase its share from 2.4 % to 6 %. (1)Such voluminous increments can be met only by employing big size heavy earth moving machines (HEMM)(2). Dumpers are the common choice in all types of mines for material movement. There are 4200 dumpers of various sizes being used in the different mines in India. The cost of dumpers varies from Rs 1.0 crore for 35 tons to Rs 24 crore for 240 tons version.(3) The availability and utilization percentage of dumpers is low as compared to other HEMM. Hence there is a need for continuous monitoring of operational and machine parameters. Presently, only in large mines GPS based systems are being used to monitor such parameters. In small and medium mines monitoring is manual in nature. Manual method of data generation has its own limitations with respect to time and reliability. GPS based systems are not only costly but also requires qualified manpower to operate and maintain it. This calls for indigenous development of economical management information system (MIS) which could produce temper proof on line data. This research paper discusses one such management information system developed by the authors which is economical, easy to maintain and which produces reliable data.