Development of a Reliable Wireless Communication System to Monitor Environmental Parameters from Various Positions of Underground Mines to the Surface using ZigBee Modules

Abstract

The mining industry is known for its valuable minerals, and the way to get minerals is by mining below the surface. Many industries benefitted by adopting automation which has improved workplace operational management, enhanced safety, real-time monitoring, and cost-effectiveness. On the basis of challenges in underground mines, a reliable wireless communication and monitoring system is required in underground mines to enhance safety and prevent major hazards. Underground mine environments are affected by various environmental parameters such as toxic gases, flammable and inflammable gases, and dust. The variation in the presence of harmful gases is a major issue that causes gas explosions and damages the mine infrastructure. Currently, most underground mines adopted conventional multi-gas detectors to monitor mine gases manually at regular intervals or once a day. In this paper, a real-time data communication system to monitor mining parameters based on wireless ZigBee modules is established and evaluated in two different underground mines in India. A wireless message communication establishment process between two ZigBee modules is described in detail, and an investigation of radio range tests by measuring received signal strength indication (RSSI) parameters is carried out in the first underground mine site at level 3 with consideration of 10-m intervals apart at each test for the straight tunnel case. In addition, wireless communication is established to monitor the environmental parameters of underground mine levels to the surface. Further, established wireless communication to monitor the environmental parameters of the straight and curved tunnels of a second underground mine. The experimental result represents successful wireless communication between ZigBee modules with a distance of 100 m to 120 m in straight tunnels and a reduction in signal strength and data packet loss in curved tunnels of underground mines. In addition, the results show that the developed ZigBee-based system is suitable for measuring environmental parameters in open surface and underground mines. © The Institution of Engineers (India) 2023.