Enhancing safety in surface mine blasting operations with IoT based ground vibration monitoring and prediction system integrated with machine learning

Abstract

Monitoring and predicting ground vibration levels during blasting operations is essential to safeguard mining sites and surrounding communities. This study introduces an IoT-based ground vibration monitoring device specifically designed for limestone mining operations, combined with machine learning algorithms to predict ground vibration intensity. The primary aim is to provide an efficient predictive tool for anticipating hazardous vibration levels, enabling proactive safety measures. A comparative analysis with the industry-standard Minimate Blaster indicates high accuracy of the IoT device, with percentage errors as low as 0.803% across multiple blasts. The study also employed Support Vector Regression (SVR), Gradient Boosting Regression (GBR), and Random Forest (RF) algorithms to predict Peak Particle Velocity (PPV) values. Among these, the Random Forest model outperformed the others, achieving an R2 score of 0.92, Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.21, and Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) of 0.31. These findings underscore the reliability and predictive accuracy of the IoT-integrated Random Forest model, suggesting that it can significantly contribute to enhancing safety and operational efficiency in mining. The research highlights the potential of IoT and machine learning technologies to transform ground vibration monitoring, promoting safer and more sustainable mining practices. © The Author(s) 2025.