The future of mining may be safer and more connected as technology corporations like Huawei Technologies Co. implement 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency and data communication at mining operations.
Huawei and Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd announced Thursday that two 5G and AI connected mines in the Shaanxi province of China have been in operation for a year showcasing the benefits of the technology.
The program has enhanced production efficiency and operational safety in Shaanxi coal mines in China since its inception. It also has the added benefit of promoting data sharing, which has led to intelligent collaboration between multiple different departments, including safety assurance, production, operation, and other systems. It has also improved efficiency during geological exploration, tunneling, and mining.
Intelligent mining refers to the use of advanced technologies such as 5G, AI, cloud computing, and big data to optimize and automate mining processes. These technologies enable the collection and analysis of vast amounts of data in real-time, allowing for more informed decision-making, increased efficiency, and improved safety.
Huawei has collaborated with Shaanxi Coal Company’s Hongliulin Coal Mine and Xiaobaodang Coal Mine to develop new practices and applications tailored to the specific needs of coal production.
Throughout this process, Huawei has drawn on its expertise in 5G, AI, cloud, big data, and other technologies, as well as its ability to integrate global resources. This partnership has set a new standard for mines in the industry, said Xu Jun, the CTO of Huawei’s mining business unit (BU).
The Hongliulin Coal Mine has seen an 18 per cent reduction in workers working underground. Additionally, 97.7 per cent of its mine faces now support intelligent mining, and technologically-aided management has been made possible for the underground mine face using 5G video splicing and video calls.
More than 2,700 sets of equipment at the mine are now interconnected using unified data standards, with 170 million pieces of data streamed to the data lake every day. This data has been used to create over 100 digital models, which can inform production and operation decision making and develop new digital applications using “zero-code” development tools.
The Xiaobaodang Coal Mine has also used 5G and other technologies to enable intelligent mining processes, equipment, and management, significantly improving operational safety and production efficiency. The mine’s underground workforce has been reduced by 42 per cent.
The intelligent mine solution is particularly noteworthy as it can create virtual mines that act as digital twins of physical mines underground. This generates greater value from the vast amounts of mining data while also improving safety and efficiency.
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Huawei working to provide services for coal and metal miners
Huawei and Shaanxi Coal Company have worked together to develop new practices and applications that meet the specific requirements of coal production.
“The industrial Internet is the foundation of intelligent mines. Huawei Mine BU is committed to working with partners and mining enterprises to bring digital technology to every mine and build intelligent mines with the industrial Internet more quickly,” said Xu.
The company is working to provide digital services for major coal and metal mining enterprises around the world to enable safer and more efficient intelligent mine management with fewer staff working underground, Xu said.
Key facilities in the mine, such as the underground water pump rooms and substations, have achieved intelligent, unattended operations, thanks to machine patrol inspection and video-based collaboration.
The environmental monitoring devices can autonomously detect and give out warnings related to gas buildup, fires, flooding, ventilation issues, and geological events, enabling real-time data interconnection. This can support more informed decision making to greatly improve safety management at the mine.
Huawei is a Chinese multinational technology and communications company.
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