The (European) mining industry is under great pressure due to a number of reasons, e.g. high number of injuries/fatalities and environmental accidents, bad reputation, low commodity prices, depleting resources and decreasing ore grades, etc. The only way to overcome these challenges is to completely “rethink” the process of traditional mining via progressively digitising mining operations and introducing ground-breaking innovations (e.g. remote controlled robots, autonomous drones, novel sensor systems, etc.), accompanied by the extensive use of data analytics and new forms of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). illuMINEation will illuminate important digitalization aspects in underground mining operations in order to achieve the next level of safety, environment and economic performance, and to retain and gain a social licence to operate. The project will develop a robust multi-level distributed IIoT platform (including cloud computing & distributed cloud management) that connects via wireless communication with the physical mining world, defined by massively installed low-cost all-embracing sensor networks. Advanced analytical algorithms will support the implementation of powerful, sophisticated automated control systems. Mobile user interfaces, dashboards, augmented and virtual reality as well as digital twins will be utilised for data visualisation and operational control. illuMINEation will ensure that all mining personnel receive the best possible information that the enormous amount of data has to offer, whilst ensuring all data is properly protected via a rigorous cyber security approach. The illuMINEation consortium provides the necessary resources and comprehensive skills and capabilities to operate across organizational boundaries with the aim to bring together the different parts of the entire digital mining business value chain and create cross-industry innovations.

The main economic, technological and environmental challenges of small mining include reducing high investment costs, reducing generation of waste and large tailings, identifying and addressing environmental impacts, and improving flexibility, automation and safety of operations. However, at the moment, there is no quick-fix available to reduce the environmental impact from mines, and it is neither realistic to expect production solutions very distant from today’s technologies. Considering that the present mining technology is based on rock blasting and mobile mining equipment for loading and transportation, the major challenge is to generate a new sustainable systemic solution that affects positively the relevant mining value chain. SLIM aims to develop a cost-effective and sustainable selective low impact mining solution based on non-linear rock mass fragmentation by blasting models, airborne particulate matter, vibration affections and nitrate leaching mitigation actions for exploitation of small mineral deposits (including those with chemically complex ore-forming phases) through a new generation of explosives and an advanced automatic blast design software based on improved rock mass characterisation and fragmentation models for optimum fragmentation and minimum rock damage and far-field vibrations. SLIM consortium is led by UPM (es), with LTU (se), MUL (at) and TUG (at) as Research Insitutions, 3GSM (at - Rock fragmentation and blasting software), MAXAM (es - Explosives), ORGIVA (es - Fluorite mine) and ERZBERG (at - Iron mine) and ARNO (es - Quarry) as validators in relevant environment. BRGM (fr), INVESTORNET (dk), MINPOL (at), and ZABALA (es) complement the Environmental and Economic assessments, the Communication and Dissemination activities and Social Awareness actions. SLIM addresses the following issue: a) Sustainable selective low impact mining (2016), it has a planned duration of 48 months and a budget of €6,979,200 requesting €6,979,200 of EU funding.