Applications of Drones in Underground Mines:

1. Geotechnical Characterization:

• Safer Data Collection: Drones offer a safer alternative for gathering rock mass data in inaccessible regions within underground mines, owing to their compact size and maneuverability.
• Advanced Techniques: Techniques like photogrammetry and FLIR (forward-looking infrared) imaging provide valuable geological and structural data, aiding in rock stability assessments.

2. Rock Size Distribution Analysis:

• Extraction Efficiency: Drilling and blasting remain prevalent methods for rock extraction in underground hard rock mines, with the size distribution of post-blast rock being critical for subsequent production phases.
• Precision Measurement: Various methodologies, including expert visual observation, sieve analysis, and image processing, offer swift and precise means of determining rock size distribution.

3. Gas Detection:

• Enhanced Safety: Continuous monitoring of air quality and gas concentrations is essential for ensuring worker safety in underground coal mines.
• Integrated Systems: Employing a sensor network for ongoing monitoring, augmented by drone-based gas detection systems, enhances the capacity to identify and mitigate harmful gas emissions.

Other Applications of Drones in Mining:

• Reporting and Auditing: Drones aid in tracking and recording on-site activities, providing accurate imagery for reporting and auditing, improving transparency and accountability.
• Reclamation: Drones help monitor changes in land, facilitating the reclamation process by providing data for restoring mined areas to their original state.
• Maintaining Tailings Dams and Ponds: Continuous drone surveillance helps prevent leaks and incidents by providing detailed imagery for proactive maintenance.
• Stockpile Management: Drones enable safe and precise measurement of stockpile volumes, improving inventory management and operational efficiency.
• Drilling and Blasting: Aerial views from drones assist in planning and assessing drill patterns and blasting results, optimizing extraction processes.
• Water and Sediment Flow Monitoring: Drones aid in managing water resources and preventing environmental hazards by monitoring water and sediment flow.
• Hazard Identification: Regular drone surveys help identify and address potential safety hazards, ensuring a safer working environment.
• Haul Roads: Drones assist in monitoring and maintaining haul roads, optimizing transportation routes and ensuring operational efficiency.
• Surveying in Underground Mines: Specially designed drones with collision-tolerant features and real-time controls enable efficient surveying and inspection of underground environments, enhancing safety and reducing costs.