MINE.IO - Holistic Digital Mine 4.0 Ecosystem
Project duration and partners
2023 to 2026 - EU, Horizon Europe
Project description
A holistic digital Mine 4.0 ecosystem (short: MINE.IO) is a project that focuses on the industrialisation, informatisation and sustainable development of the mining sector. Our goal is to provide solutions that create a new type of digital ecosystem for mining and a systemic structure for the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the mining industry. The MINE.IO solution will cover the entire value chain of the mining system, from exploration, extraction and processing of resources to waste disposal and post-mining follow-up.
Project objectives
The objectives of the project are designed to address key challenges and drive innovation in the mining industry. The 9 objectives of the MINE.IO project:
- Building an open, digital and advanced digital infrastructure and the foundation for the "hyper-connected enterprise" in Mining 4.0 production.
- Developing advanced, environmentally friendly and smart integrated solutions to promote the sustainable discovery of strategic raw materials in Europe.
- Advancing mobility, logistics and supply chain operations.
- Digitising plant and process equipment.
- Driving sustainable mining
- Demonstrating and evaluating all MINE.IO concepts and solutions in real regional pilot projects (conducted in WP6) - proving the feasibility (evidence-based) of innovative technological solutions to support the transition to I4.0 in the mining sector.
- Organising and facilitating the adoption, replication and upscaling of technological solutions developed by MINE.IO.
- Planning and facilitating the exploitation of the project results.
- Communicating and disseminating the scientific and technical project results - liaising with other R&D initiatives, end-user communities and the global mining environment for knowledge transfer and market development through liaison and training activities.
Core Ideas
Our core idea is to provide a production system architecture for use in the "factory floor" of digital twin mining in a cloud environment. MINE.IO promises a state-of-the-art infrastructure for cloud services and a state-of-the-art mining ecosystem for sharing, connectivity and unrestricted collaboration. To promote openness and data sharing, MINE.IO will provide a unified data infrastructure and collaborative platform ecosystem that will improve the climate for collaboration between mining companies. MINE.IO aims to improve the standardisation of basic operations in the mining sector, including plant and process equipment optimisation, embedded predictive analytics, fully data-driven optimisation techniques, integrated cyber-virtual and cyber-physical systems, automation and robotisation of mining exploration and production processes, sustainable mining and post-mining management.
MINE.IO will provide a framework for resource optimisation and digital transformation, including dedicated circular economy and low-impact mining solutions to address growing social and environmental concerns. Advances in energy, such as the transition to autonomous electric vehicles, will ensure a socially responsible bottom line while improving working conditions for frontline workers, including better air quality for those working underground.
Consortium
The consortium includes 25 partners from across Europe. These are divided into technology providers, mine operators, universities and research institutions. The MINE.IO ecosystem will be tested at 7 demonstration sites in 5 EU countries, including 4 active mine sites and 2 historic mine sites, where 21 technologies will be trialled.
Max Friedemann
TU Bergakademie Freiberg
Institute of Mining Engineering and Special Civil Engineering
Chair for Underground Mining Methods
Research and Training Mine "Reiche Zeche"
Fuchsmühlenweg 9
09599 Freiberg
+49 3731 39-3578
Max [dot] Friedemann [at] mabb [dot] tu-freiberg [dot] de (Max[dot]Friedemann[at]mabb[dot]tu-freiberg[dot]de)