Tags help keep track of people, vehicles and important assets within a mine. In a relatively brief time, tagging technology has evolved from simple processors to smartphone apps that act as a “virtual tag”. As the need for real-time situational awareness grows in underground mining, tags play a critical role in supporting everything from shift planning to safety protocols to autonomous vehicle navigation.
Tracking with tags can be performed both actively and indirectly. People and mobile assets, including light vehicles and heavy mining machines, often need to be tracked in real-time for safety and productivity reasons. Active tracking tags provide that crucial real-time awareness. Active tracking usually involves a Real-time Location System (RTLS) tag that utilizes various localization technologies to register and report the location of tags in a near real-time fashion. The more advanced tags are, the more energy they require. Hence, active are usually rechargeable.
In addition to mobile assets, there are typically large quantities of fixed assets in a mine, which usually stay in the same location for an extended period of time. Fixed assets include things like pumps and control units, boxes of vital spare parts, electrical outlets, network switches, fire extinguishers, and heart starters.
To lower cost, instead of using an active tag for these objects, an indirect tracking method using battery-powered Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) beacons can be used. With a battery life of three to four years, BLE beacons are indirectly located by other active tags that pass by and register the last known location.
In mining, RFID tags can be embedded in worker IDs, equipment such as helmets, or even integrated into the mining infrastructure. RFID tags are widely adopted and can be very cost-effective, but they provide limited data and accuracy when it comes to positioning and tracking.
The old paradigm was that readers would be placed strategically throughout the mine. A 100 kilometer mine might have ten readers, dividing the mine into 10 kilometer zones. When a person with a tag passed the reader, it didn't say where that person was currently located, it just said that they passed this reader at a certain time. So, you could assume the person carrying that tag is in that zone, but that could be an extremely large area.
Today, algorithms can be applied to more accurately position an RFID tag within the network coverage area, which can be visualized in the control center based on actual measurements.
Cons of RFID tags:
Pros of Wi-Fi tags:
Cons of Wi-Fi tags:
UWB tags utilize high-frequency radio technology for low-latency data transfer. UWB tags transmit a unique identifier in 1-2 nanosecond pulses across a wide bandwidth of frequencies, typically within the spectrum of 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz. Still an emerging technology, UWB is used today mostly to support advanced navigation and collision avoidance technology, rather than for real-time tracking and positioning. Through triangulation, UWB tags can provide the data needed for near real-time 3D visualizations of an environment.
Providing precise awareness of what’s nearby in the work environment, such as people, vehicles and walls, UWB tags support machine operators in the mine, remote operators on the surface, and the navigation systems of self-driving vehicles.
Pros of UWB tags:
Cons of UWB tags:
A virtual tag is an app on a smart phone.
Virtual tags are perhaps the most advanced and practical tag technology available to miners today. Virtual tag apps are designed to work with standard smartphone operating systems, so no specialized hardware is required to use the technology. Due to worker privacy issues, there has been pushback against the use of traditional tags in some regions. Older tag technologies such as RFID provide relatively low value to people working in the mine, as they can only be used to keep track of where personnel are located.
In comparison, a virtual tag can provide staff with two-way communication and more tangible value. For example, tag apps can assist workers in navigating the mine and help ensure that they are not in harm’s way. Mass text messages, as well as push notifications that trigger staff phones to vibrate and flash, can support safety and evacuation protocols, creating a healthier workplace for everyone.
Virtual tags are connected to backend servers via an IP session, so it's always connected. Any data detected by the virtual tag can be fed to the backend, increasing real-time situational awareness.
By utilizing existing network infrastructure, virtual tags eliminate the need to install physical tags or beacons underground. There’s no need for dedicated tracking hardware, which reduces both upfront capital investment and ongoing operating costs. The technology can be updated regularly and improved based on user feedback, just like any consumer app.
Pros of virtual tags:
Cons of virtual tags:
Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) beacons are not tags themselves, but separate units installed in places where the network is poor, or where you need to improve location accuracy in the mine. Positioning tags read BLE beacons that act as reference points and then use Wi-Fi or cellular to communicate the BLE readings to a location engine that translates these readings into a position.
BLE is based on the same technology as Bluetooth classic, which is used to connect wireless devices such as headphones or your computer mouse. The BLE radio standard is designed to operate with minimal power needs, making it an effective technology for tracking in industrial settings.
Once a tag is in range of a beacon, the tag’s unique identifier can be used to track the physical location of a person or machine in relation to the beacon. BLE beacons can also trigger location-based actions, such as sending a push notification or alert.
Pros of BLE tags:
Leverages ubiquitous Bluetooth technology
Supports real-time location tracking and proximity monitoring
Cons of BLE tags:
Epiroc, a leading provider of mining equipment and solutions, is committed to supporting our customers' automation and digitalization journey. Mining companies can leverage our expertise, resources, and innovative solutions to implement the most suitable tag technology for site-specific requirements.
In recent years, Epiroc has invested heavily in expanding our portfolio of digital solutions, including advanced tag and tracking technologies. These solutions are designed to support the safety and productivity of miners, while also driving the industry towards a more digitized and connected future.
Epiroc partners with mining companies to support successful digital transformations. Whether you need help assessing your mine site, finding the most cost-effective solutions, or integrating technologies, we’re here to support you onsite, in the control room, and in the boardroom.
