A Study on the Role of Automation and AI in Operational Efficiency and Sustainable Mining

One of the major pillars for world’s economic growth, the mining industry today is facing challenges in maintaining efficiency and productivity while following environmental regulations, at an ever-growing demand. There is limited incorporation of technology in Indian mining practices. To address this gap, the study explores the integration of automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance operational efficiency and promote sustainable mining. The objective of the research is to evaluate and assess the contribution of advanced technology towards achieving sustainability in mining, benefits derived out of real-time monitoring, and the impact of automation on the safety of work. It is conducted with the qualitative research design approach, which has made an attempt to capture the metamorphosis of mining technologies, benefits out of integration across value chains, and areas that pose challenges through interviews and focus group discussions, carried with industry experts in various parts across India. It also compares the role of technology in mining practices across leading countries and India. These provide evidence that automation and AI are forces in the efficient management of environments and workforce security. IoT devices are quite useful in real- time monitoring and are designed for environmental footprints and resource conservation management. The paper acknowledges, however, some of the methodological limitations, which in turn places additional demands on ongoing innovation. Lastly, the research shows how work can be conducted in the future to integrate state-of-the-art technologies, blockchain, and advanced AI for further value chain enhancement in mining, focusing much on how this industry keeps adapting. Keywords: Sustainable mining, automation and AI, productivity, operational efficiency, integrating technology, real-time monitoring, worker safety, environmental footprint.