Drone Technology in Mining

Statistical Information

"Mines that have invested to some extent in drones has increased from 44% in 2018 to 65% in 2022, with 32% in the 2022 survey stating they had either fully invested in drones or made a considerable investment."

- GLOBAL DATA 2022 MINE-SITE SURVEY

Those surveyed by Global Data, representing most firms in the industry, listed many ongoing uses for drones in their mining operations. These are the top five reasons stated by those firms:

83% said they used drones for survey and mapping
68% for used in monitoring and inspection
44% for advancements in safety
43% for route logistics and planning
42% used drones for stockpile management.

Ultimately, all these benefits can be traced back to the short and long-term cost benefits for the company itself. In one estimate, the savings to mining firms was found to be up to 90% of the per hour cost over using manned aircraft for the same task. In an industry with almost $1 trillion in revenue on $700 billion in operating expenses, a 90% savings on any expense is not something that can be easily overlooked by any firm, no matter what the size.

Safety

Drone technology in underground mining situations replaces human checking of ground conditions, tunnel walls, blasting areas and general site stability so that any risks can be discovered without exposing workers to them.

By using autonomous systems and drones equipped with AI, mining companies can improve safety by reducing the need for workers to enter hazardous areas, such as steep slopes or unstable ground.

These technologies can detect and predict safety hazards, allowing for proactive measures to prevent accidents. Safety Inspections and Risk Assessment Drones have proven to be invaluable in conducting safety inspections and risk assessments in mining sites. Equipped with high-resolution cameras and sensors, drones can access hazardous or hard-to-reach areas without putting human lives at risk.

Technology

Drone Technology encourages the mining industry to procure more accurate and systematic data for mining operations such as volume estimations. Quicker data collection – Drone surveys for mine sites enable more rapid data collection, nearly 30x faster than traditional land-based practices carried out by personnel.