Adopting smart technologies and digital innovations in a mining environment presents many benefits for day-to-day operations by making data available from the Edge with technologies such as the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and the Message Queueing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol, thereby enabling real-time presentation of workplace-specific data and plant performance.

The MQTT technology is a standard publish-and-subscribe messaging protocol enabling IIoT solutions, ideally suited for low-bandwidth and high-latency networks, says Iritron senior business development manager Neels van der Walt.

The data from the IIoT and MQTT solution allows for the early detection of anomalies by using the data for AI and machine learning models to continuously monitor and measure process and equipment operating conditions, such as the on-premise monitoring of temperatures, pressures, flows and machine vibration levels.

Consequently, mine personnel, using real-time data and smart sensor technologies, can quickly identify and intervene when an anomaly is detected in an asset or in the process.

Van der Walt notes that mining operations can be optimised using IIoT and MQTT, as it can make available raw, real-world data that provides the foundation for information that can be stored and accessed on a central digital platform.

This data can be used to act timeously, preventing serious plant damage and extended downtime and repair cost, as machinery can be fixed as and when faults occur, which also leads to energy savings and optimal plant operability.

This technology is particularly apt in South Africa, where digitisation for optimisation – streamlining once-traditional work processes and saving costs – is taking centre stage in various industries, including the mining sector.

This is in addition to various original equipment manufacturers continuing to produce hardware and software that are compatible with MQTT capabilities.

“In its simplest form, the implementation process to establish a MQTT connection and to start . . . publishing data involves subscribing to a central MQTT broker by configuration of the broker’s Internet Protocol address, [and assigning a] username and password. Data publishing to the broker will start in real time.”

It is “easier than ever before” to make data available from remote sites and locations in a secure, scalable way to all users and applications that need access to real-time plant information, adds Van der Walt.

He adds that MQTT implementation that complies with the Sparkplug B specification allows for the sharing of contextual data about sensors on site, including the name, location and engineering units.

The mining operation can then use the MQTT technology and Sparkplug B to construct a unified namespace, or UNS, which enables users to access a single source of data when they require real-time information.

Environmental, Social Soundness

Sustainable mining is growing in importance, and MQTT technologies can allow for the availing of information about important environmental, social and governance targets by monitoring the information provided about mine utilities, such as energy and water consumption, as well as ensuring the health and safety of mineworkers.

“Online condition monitoring and the use of early anomaly detection, made possible by IIoT, AI and machine learning, can help prevent environmental incidents, which, if undetected, can be very costly to mining companies and the environment.”

With MQTT becoming a popular technology for enabling IIoT capabilities for the mining sector in South Africa, owing to its easy-to-use properties and compatibility with existing networks, Van der Walt says that it is becoming a fast-growing market in the country.

“Iritron is actively marketing the benefits the technology provides for mining and industry clients, and we are . . . engaged in the rollout of a number of projects leveraging IIoT and MQTT technology,” he concludes.