Journal of Engineering Research

In the current era, the wave of the Fourth Industrial Revolution is sweeping across the globe, with the development of intelligent mines being particularly noteworthy. This revolutionary progress is fundamentally transforming traditional mining through a series of technological innovations. Based on 32 domestic and international projects and extensive industry data, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of how intelligent technologies impact the entire lifecycle of mines. The research findings demonstrate that high-precision 3D geological modeling technology and optimized mining design significantly enhance mineral resource recovery rates. The application of 5G communication technology and the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System enables unmanned transportation systems, effectively reducing transportation costs. Furthermore, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in safety early warning substantially reduces the incidence of mining accidents. By adopting digital twin technology, intelligent mines achieve effective carbon emission management, with demonstration projects indicating a significant decrease in carbon intensity by 2024. The intelligent transformation not only facilitates a closed-loop integration of data, knowledge, and decision-making value but also drives the industry’s shift from experience dependency to algorithm-driven operations, achieving a balance between productivity growth and ecological conservation. This series of transformations provides valuable reference and insights for the Chinese approach to global sustainable mining development.

Digital twin system; Mining resource optimization; Intelligent monitoring for green mines; Intelligent collaborative management