The pace and scale of technology change in industry is increasing, and the mining industry is no exception. Important new technologies are being developed to help firms. Goals include being able to:Lower their production costs.Increase the productivity of workers and equipment.Meet regulatory and community requirements in areas such as safety and the environment.To these ends, developments in information technologies, wireless communicatons, materials engineering and maintenance technologies are having profound impacts on the way mining and quarrying operations are planned, operated and, eventually, reclaimed. At the same time, the large capital investments at stake in such emerging technologies increase the pressure on managers to make the right technology decisions at the right time. Integration of new technologies into existing operations is an equally complex challenge and will change the dynamics of the workplace. What critical technologies are most likely to be developed and deployed in the coming years and what are their implications for mining and quarrying operations?
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