9 - Practical coal mine ground control—operator’s perspective

Abstract

This chapter summarizes recent advances in coal mine ground control technology and practice from the operator’s perspective. While many ground control research programs have been carried out over the past 60 years from the mine operator’s perspective, any new development in coal mine ground control technology can be segregated into two categories: output-oriented and outcome-oriented. An output-oriented research typically emphasizes fundamental theories and peer-reviewed journal publications, while an outcome-oriented research typically is conducted to solve real world problems, and places considerable emphasis on industry acceptance, adoption, and practical application. Although output-oriented research has its purpose and place, the outcome-oriented research is the most important research from the operator’s perspective, since results from the research can readily be accepted and applied to improve mining efficiency and miner safety and health.