According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which uses over 70,000 patents to analyze innovation intensity for the mining industry, there are 40+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Emergency rescue systems is a key innovation area in Internet of Things
The advancement of sensors has enabled devices, buildings, and clothing to become smart and connected. IoT solutions benefit all branches of emergency services in different ways. Mining operations use risk assessment processes to identify potential emergency events and circumstances. The mining site will need to consider the types of emergency equipment that can be used to mitigate the emergency as part of this process.
Emergency rescue equipment includes breathing apparatus, work at height equipment, confined space equipment, firefighting equipment, gas detection, rescue chambers and vehicles, and personal protective equipment to support the specific emergencies.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 100+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established mining companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of emergency rescue systems.
Key players in emergency rescue systems – a disruptive innovation in the mining industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Sandvik, Epiroc, Atlas Copco and POSCO E&C are some of the leading patent filers in emergency rescue systems. POSCO E&C created the Smart Safety Solution, a safety management system that incorporates Industry 4.0 technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, IoT, and virtual reality. The company is ensuring early detection and rapid response to on-site safety accidents through smart safety management, which it has implemented at various industrial sites, including steel plants, and is also reducing accidents by 30% by preventing unsafe behaviors and conditions. The company’s smart safety technologies include gas sensor, work location control, thermal CCTV, smart CCTV, smart ball, safety bus and safety vest. POSCO’s Smart Safety Ball is the world’s first technology, which detects the presence of harmful gases by throwing the ball into the enclosed workspace before workers enter. Meanwhile, the Safety Bus is a vehicle created specifically for Posco subcontractors. A large LED screen attached to the outside of the bus displays safety information for workers entering steel mills. The most versatile method of delivering precautions and details on the current safety status is through the LED screens. The bus also has two televisions inside to convey information without regard for time or space, promoting effective and efficient learning.
Meanwhile, Atlas Copco’s Automatic Monitoring and Extinguishing System employs smoke and heat detectors through a voting system to first shut down the engine or prime mover and when necessary, extinguish the source of the potential hazard with CO.
In terms of application diversity, Epiroc leads the pack, while Guangzhou Metro Group stood and China Railway Construction stood in the second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Sandvik held the top position, followed by Epiroc and Sanwa.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the mining industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Internet of Things (IoT) in Mining.
