A review of positioning technologies for personnel and equipment in underground mines
As the global emphasis on mineral resource extraction gradually shifts to deeper underground locations, accurately positioning underground personnel and equipment is crucial for the sustainable development of mining operations. This paper provides a systematic review of the current research on under...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Taylor & Francis Group
2025-08-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Digital Earth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2506493 |
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| Summary: | As the global emphasis on mineral resource extraction gradually shifts to deeper underground locations, accurately positioning underground personnel and equipment is crucial for the sustainable development of mining operations. This paper provides a systematic review of the current research on underground mine positioning, emphasizing three main approaches: radio frequency (RF), non-RF, and simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) positioning. In the context of RF positioning, the principles, system components, applicable scenarios, and technological advancements, such as RFID, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and ultra-wideband (UWB), are explored. Regarding non-RF positioning, the research status and unique advantages of emerging technologies, including sound waves, magnetic fields, visible light communication, and inertial navigation, are reviewed. Additionally, the characteristics, challenges, and research hotspots of visual, lidar, and multi-sensor fusion for SLAM positioning are summarized, while considering commonly used public datasets for underground mine SLAM. Based on an in-depth investigation, the features and limitations of various positioning technologies are compared from multiple perspectives, identifying the key scientific issues and exploring future directions. Finally, the intelligent fusion of heterogeneous multi-source sensors to improve positioning performance in complex underground environments is discussed. This article serves as a comprehensive reference on underground mine positioning, providing theoretical guidance for realizing mine intelligence. |
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| ISSN: | 1753-8947 1753-8955 |