Current issue 5/2025

Editorial

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) in mining are key topics that are fundamentally changing the industry and playing a decisive role in its future. Mining companies are investing in modern automation, energy supply and drilling systems to increase output and occupational safety in operations and reduce labour and energy costs. Advancing digitalisation brings benefits in terms of improved productivity, operational excellence and increased competitiveness. This issue of Mining Report Glückauf therefore focuses in particular on the topics of AI and digitalisation.

Advances in digitalisation, automation and networking are transforming industries worldwide. Two sectors that are particularly affected by these developments are mining and the automotive industry. An initial article highlights the similarities and differences in the realisation of these developments. The efficient navigation of mobile equipment in dynamic mining environments is a key challenge. The implementation of a stereo camera-based SLAM algorithm enables the three-dimensional detection of the environment and thus leads to robust navigation, even if GPS signals are not available. Shielding and robotisation open up new perspectives for underground drill-and-blast development. By isolating the area near the working face using a mobile, double-barrier shielding system, the presence of personnel in this zone can be entirely avoided. Decoupling blasting, material handling and also ventilation not only enables shorter cycle times but also reduces safety-critical operations. Another article describes the interface challenges between active tunnelling operations and ground freezing works on the HS2 tunnelling project in London/UK, where the key success factors included the integration of the freezing design based on up-to-date as-built data, a multi-layered communication and coordination system, dynamic personnel planning and training and flexible management of operational processes. Finally, a key component of the endeavours in mining is the challenge of finding answers to the question of how the issue of energy should be addressed in future operations.

This issue is rounded off by an article on the ruling of the Hamm Higher Regional Court on climate liability, the “ISSA Mining” section on the “Tactical Medical Mining Rescue” course concept for mine rescue teams and the “Post-Mining” section on experiences and findings for sustainable mine water management in underground hard coal mining.

With my best regards