Mining is one of the first industries to benefit from private networks. They have been using robots to explore and sensors to collect data for quite some time. This is all about safety. It is also about automation. 

Here’s the thing. I worked on these solutions years ago with a licensed spectrum that was leased. I was thinking CBRS would open it up. Many offers I worked were in Canada which I believe also has spectrum available. This is ideal for what mining companies need without all the cost of a lease. 

The reason it’s ideal in mining is because you have more powerful radios that can cover more real estate than Wi-Fi. If it’s a larger operation then coverage matters. Even underground coverage and go further with a CBRS radio. 

One of the things that mining companies wanted to do was to automate equipment as much as possible. Above ground they had large trucks that ran back and forth between two spots, receiving dirt at one end and dumping it at the other end. This is a repetitive task that could be automated. I assume today they can do it without any problems, but it’s only one use-case outside of safety and worker communications.

1. Safety – here they could be using anything. They were counting on the geo fencing solution for workers safety. The plan was to track them and warn them if they went into a dangerous area, above ground or below. Safety can cover so many devices here that a complete solution would have to be put together including cameras on every level to ensure visual contact along with the sensors. Don’t forget body cameras, that was another use case we discussed under safety to report what the work was working on in real time.
2. Air and water sensors – If you can monitor this real time and send out updates and alerts in case there’s a problem, it could save lives. Sensors detecting dangerous gasses or flooding were something that could alert them in real time if they had a device on their side. They could be alerted as soon as something happens. Even vibration sensors alert them of a cave in or a potential cave in. Remember that when the workers are in the mine, they can’t hear because the equipment is so noisy. A device could be in their ear or vibrate to warn them.
3. Automation and robotics – one of the biggest game changers is to have the machines do the work and monitor them in real time with wireless connections. This way fewer humans need to tote in the shaft when moving product from the lower levels to the top. If a truck can do that automatically, then let it. If the equipment can drill with the worker being in a safe area, let’s do it. If we need a drone to survey the situation in the mine, let’s do it!
4. Live Video feeds – is something that we want to do more of but the thing is, it takes a lot of bandwidth. The good news is that if you’re below ground you should be able to use all the CBRS spectrum because you won’t interfere with anyone. One use case I proposed for safety was to have live video monitor workers and when they cross a line or if a sensor starts to send alerts, you can alert the work and set off red lights and alarms. Real-time is critical for safety. Think about how much protection you could offer. Not only that but if a remote NOC can monitor the video and something does happen, then they have a record of what happened and maybe what is happening. 
5. Emergency response – drones again, or robots to check on problems, medical issues, and new areas of the mine shafts. Very quick response, video feeds, and send in supplies if necessary. 
6. Monitor employee’s vitals – using a smartwatch or smart ring to ensure worker safety and wellbeing. This could be for the day in real-time and to collect stats over time. This could make a difference when workers have a long-term issue in the mine. Data collection is the real value here.
7. Logistics and data collection – seeing what production is happening in real-time could be a plus. Tracking shipments from the mine to the processing plant will improve revenue forecasting. 
8. Communication – constant communication, like a PTT (push-to-talk) model is critical when in the mine.