14
the papers again manually, 65 papers with 158 mining operations were identified. The TO
from all papers are shown in Figure 5. Especially “automation”, “real time data”, “advanced
process control” and “machine learning” show high values.
4 DISCUSSION
Even though the identified trends come from a number of experts of the industry, the trends
only can be seen as indictors for the industry. The analysis does not leave any statement
about the technical benefit as well as urgency or relevance for a single mining operation.
Moreover, this analyses gives an overview about discussed digital technologies for the mining
industry and where possible potential is seen by experts. The examined scientific articles
confirm the significance of the analysis, since the same trends are seen as trend-setting.
Additionally, the named trends, like “automation”, “IoT”, “big data”, etc. are reflected in
the trend analysis for the manufacturing or logistic industry and play a significant role there
(cf. TippingandKauschkeTipping and Kauschke (2016), Kovacs and Kot (2016), Tao et al.
(2017), Grazia Speranza (2018)). This also supports the importance of this development in
the mining industry.
4.1 Which digital trends are currently relevant for the mining industry and how can
they be systematically captured?
As seen in the results section, automation is the significant trend, which will or already does
affect the mining industry. The high degree of automation highlights the complex connection
to other terms, which are effected by, or affect an automated process. An essential reason
for the dominance of automation is also the manifold use of this technology, e.g. process
automation in beneficiation processes, automation of machines up to the close relation to
autonomies. Same tendency is reflected in the results of terms “Internet of things”, “real
time data”, “artificial intelligent”, “machine learning” and “3D printing”. Different to automation, all trends are centrally positioned in the network. This shows how important these
trends are as fundamental technologies in the future development of the mining industry.
Figure 5. Term occurrence of the recognized trends in the onemine database.
100
90
80
70
~
c
~
60
~
u
50
8
5 40
l30
20
10
0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • , , ,
the papers again manually, 65 papers with 158 mining operations were identified. The TO
from all papers are shown in Figure 5. Especially “automation”, “real time data”, “advanced
process control” and “machine learning” show high values.
4 DISCUSSION
Even though the identified trends come from a number of experts of the industry, the trends
only can be seen as indictors for the industry. The analysis does not leave any statement
about the technical benefit as well as urgency or relevance for a single mining operation.
Moreover, this analyses gives an overview about discussed digital technologies for the mining
industry and where possible potential is seen by experts. The examined scientific articles
confirm the significance of the analysis, since the same trends are seen as trend-setting.
Additionally, the named trends, like “automation”, “IoT”, “big data”, etc. are reflected in
the trend analysis for the manufacturing or logistic industry and play a significant role there
(cf. TippingandKauschkeTipping and Kauschke (2016), Kovacs and Kot (2016), Tao et al.
(2017), Grazia Speranza (2018)). This also supports the importance of this development in
the mining industry.
4.1 Which digital trends are currently relevant for the mining industry and how can
they be systematically captured?
As seen in the results section, automation is the significant trend, which will or already does
affect the mining industry. The high degree of automation highlights the complex connection
to other terms, which are effected by, or affect an automated process. An essential reason
for the dominance of automation is also the manifold use of this technology, e.g. process
automation in beneficiation processes, automation of machines up to the close relation to
autonomies. Same tendency is reflected in the results of terms “Internet of things”, “real
time data”, “artificial intelligent”, “machine learning” and “3D printing”. Different to automation, all trends are centrally positioned in the network. This shows how important these
trends are as fundamental technologies in the future development of the mining industry.
Figure 5. Term occurrence of the recognized trends in the onemine database.
100
90
80
70
~
c
~
60
~
u
50
8
5 40
l30
20
10
0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • , , ,