A Robust End-to-End IoT System for Supporting Workers in Mining Industries

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Computer Science
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• Mining environments pose significant safety risks to workers.
• Traditional monitoring methods in mines are often costly and inefficient.
• The Internet of Things (IoT) offers potential for enhanced safety and operational efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a robust, end-to-end IoT system for worker safety in harsh mining environments.
• To demonstrate how IoT can decrease monitoring costs and improve emergency response times.
• To ensure data management complies with regulations, ethics, and GDPR.

Main Methods:

• Development of an IoT solution comprising interconnected smart devices and sensors.
• Implementation of edge devices worn by workers in the field.
• Establishment of a remote cloud IoT platform for data storage and sharing.

Main Results:

• The proposed IoT system effectively monitors the real-time status of workers in mines.
• Laboratory and field experiments validated the effectiveness of the IoT components.
• The system demonstrated potential for reducing accidents and improving mine safety.

Conclusions:

• The developed IoT system significantly enhances worker safety in mining operations.
• The solution offers a cost-effective approach to monitoring and improves emergency management.
• This IoT implementation contributes to a better social image for mining industries.