Internet of things based safety system for coal mining workers
This project is based on sensing the hazardous conditions inside the mine as well as sensing the physical condition of the miners using a number of sensors. These sensors are communicating with a central controller that talks to the outside world. The whole system is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) base
2025-06-28 16:33:21 - Adil Khan
Internet of things based safety system for coal mining workers
Project Area of Specialization Internet of ThingsProject SummaryThis project is based on sensing the hazardous conditions inside the mine as well as sensing the physical condition of the miners using a number of sensors. These sensors are communicating with a central controller that talks to the outside world. The whole system is an Internet-of-Things (IoT) based system that will ensure that the miners work in a safe environment. In case of hazardous conditions and in case of miners becoming unconscious, it will alert other miners as well as the controller outside the mine.
The system can be divided into four different sub-modules; 1) Miner Unit, 2) Mine Unit, 3) Controller Unit and 4) the Central Control Unit. Each of these modules has its own microcontroller that gathers data from the sensors attached to it. It then analyzes the data from the sensors, and take a decision about whether the environment is safe or not, and whether the miners are doing well or not. It can alert the supervisor as well the controller outside the mine in case any sensor’s reading is approaching the dangerous level. So, the miners can be alerted on time of the hazardous conditions before they occur. The mines can be evacuated well on time-saving precious lives and providing a safe working environment to the miners.
Project ObjectivesEvery year, a large number of miners get injured and killed because of mine-related accidents. In Pakistan, on average, more than 100 miners lose their lives every year in mining accidents. The atmosphere inside the mine has a number of flammable gasses (like methane and ethane) and can make the environment hazardous for the miners if the concentration of these gasses increases beyond a certain level.
Sensors inside the mine will also monitor the temperature, oxygen level and humidity inside the mine. With the help of sensors, the concentration of these gasses can be monitored at all times. If the concentration of any gas approaches the dangerous level, the miners can be alerted, and the mines evacuated in time.
The objective of this project is to build an Internet-of-Things (IoT) based wireless sensor system that monitors the atmosphere inside the mine as well as the health miners (like his heartbeat and motion of hand) at all time. It will be able to alert the miners and a central control unit in case of the hazardous situation inside the mine. The central control unit can automatically inform the emergency response team.
Project Implementation MethodThe project is divided into four different sub-modules; 1) Miner Unit, 2) Mine Unit, 3) Controller Unit and 4) the Central Control Unit.
The Miner Unit consists of a Heart Beat Sensor and a Motion Sensor. This unit compares the data to the set thresholds and will raise a red flag if any sensor’s data crosses the threshold. The data from the sensors are sent to the Control Unit using an RF module and Atmega Microcontroller.
The Mine Unit consists of environmental monitoring sensors like Methane sensor, CO sensor, Humidity sensor, Temperature sensor and Oxygen sensor. This unit compares the data to the set thresholds and will raise a red flag if any sensor’s data crosses the threshold. The data from the sensors are sent to the Control Unit using an RF module and Atmega Microcontroller mounted on an Arduino Uno board.
The Controller unit consists of a Microcontroller and RF transceiver module. It collects the sensors data from all the Mine units and the miner units by round-robin algorithm and forwards it to the Central Control Unit. It alerts the supervisor as well as the Central Control Unit in case of an emergency situation. With an efficient handshaking algorithm, both the sender (mine and miner units) and receiver (control unit) make sure the data is successfully shared.
The Central Control Unit, installed outside the mine, talks to the controller units inside the mine at all times. It forwards the data it receives from the controller units to the web database from where it can be viewed anywhere in the world. It consists of an RF transceiver, a GPS module and GSM module. In case of emergency situations, it automatically alerts the emergency response team.
Benefits of the ProjectThis project will enable safety standards of the highest level for the miners in Pakistan and will serve as a model for other industries to follow. Hence it will alleviate the overall working quality of labours in Pakistan. It is a model that can be made more intelligent with time and technological advancements.
The designed safety systems will be high on demand since the mining industry is a prominent industry in Pakistan, and each company will be looking for systems that ensure high safety levels for its workers. This project is expected to receive great interest from the government itself since any government would want it's working class to be as safe as possible while on site.
The design and development of such systems in itself can turn into a huge industry in the future with the health and safety of humans being top priorities for any country. Providing the miners with high safety standards will enable them to work with more passion and less hesitance that will reap rich rewards.
Technical Details of Final DeliverableThe final deliverables will be the following sub-modules:
1) Miner Unit
2) Mine Unit
3) Controller Unit
4) the Central Control Unit
Each of these submodules has a microcontroller, some sensors and an RF module. There is firmware in each of these modules.
The prototype system will consist of three Miner Units, three Mine Units, a Controller Unit and a Central Control Unit.
Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemType of Industry Education , Petroleum , Energy Technologies Internet of Things (IoT)Sustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 80000 | |||
| Sensors ICs | Equipment | 30 | 1200 | 36000 |
| Microcontrollers ICs | Equipment | 12 | 2000 | 24000 |
| PCBs | Equipment | 10 | 1000 | 10000 |
| Surveying, traveling etc | Miscellaneous | 1 | 10000 | 10000 |