Wireless Sensor Network for Underground Mining Services Applications

Abstract

Underground mines include a number of challenges due to their hostile milieu. Therefore, geotechnical and environmental monitoring mainly in underground coal mines have always been a critical task to ensure safe working conditions. If the monitoring device is cable based, then it requires an huge amount of cable deployment which can pose not only the high maintenance cost but difficulty in laying out the cable throughout the underground galleries. on the other hand, if it is direct wireless communication between sensing devices and the central processing unit, it is also not so feasible due to the crisscross, uneven and incline path. Therefore, Wireless Sensor Networks grab an opportunity to be deployed in such a hostile environment. Keeping in view, in the present chapter, attempts have been made to discuss the different aspects of wireless sensor network for underground coal mining services applications to overcome the various threats. Further, the best suited logical topology has been identified for the same.