Reliable Communication Network for Emergency Response and Disaster Management in Underground Mines

Abstract

Emergency response and disaster management in underground mines are very challenging due to the hostile nature. Environment monitoring in mines has been an obligatory requirement to ensure safe working conditions for miners. Reliable communication network is essential to quickly detect the underground condition especially in emergency situation and to conduct proper rescue operations. This chapter presents an overview of reliable communication network needed for emergency response and disaster management in underground mines. The chapter begins by introducing the most common accidents occurring in the mining, underground mine environment and channel properties. Subsequently, communications in underground mines, existing underground communication and tracking systems, and disaster forecasting & mine safety management are discussed. The chapter also covers post-disaster mine communications & tracking systems and optimized backbone networks for underground mines. Finally, the chapter concludes by reporting relevant research at Ryerson Communications Lab and pointing out some open issues and possible research directions.