NEXGEN SIMS

The large EU project NEXGEN SIMS, Next Generation Carbon Neutral Pilots for Smart Intelligent Mining Systems, is about developing tomorrow's technology for carbon neutral mining. This includes development of battery-powered underground machines, development of 5G infrastructure, navigation systems for underground mines, autonomous machines and AI-supported traffic and classification systems.

Our part in the NEXGEN SIMS project is about the miners of the future, "The Digital Miner", where we investigate how the new technology can be used to create sustainable work environments and organizations. We analyse work roles, competence, work environment and gender equality and how the interaction human-technology-organisation is taken into account (or not) in technology development. Autonomous drones can carry out inspections in dangerous spaces, positioning miners can facilitate rescue operations if something unexpected happens, and the most dangerous jobs can be carried out remotely from control rooms above ground. But there are also risks and new problems. To point out both threats and opportunities that may exist in the new technology, we produce a visualized, interactive vision of the future of mining in a high-tech and green context. This must then be developed into recommendations.

• Read more on the project's website External link, opens in new window.
• Vision of the digital miner External link, opens in new window.