Wireless Communication in Underground Mines: RFID-based Sensor Networking

Wireless communication has emerged as an independent discipline in the past decades. Everything from cellular voice telephony to wireless data transmission using wireless sensor networks has profoundly impacted the safety, production, and productivity of industries and our lifestyle as well. After a decade of exponential growth, the wireless industry is one of the largest industries in the world. Therefore, it would be an injustice if the wireless communication is not explored for mining industry. Underground mines, which are characterized by their tough working conditions and hazardous environments, require fool-proof mine-wide communication systems for smooth functioning of mine workings and ensuring better safety. Proper and re- able communication systems not only save the machine breakdown time but also help in immediate passing of messages from the vicinity of underground working area to the surface for day-to-day normal mining operations as well as for speedy rescue operations in case of disaster. Therefore, a reliable and effective commu- cation system is an essential requisite for safe working, and maintaining requisite production and productivity of underground mines. Most of the existing systems generally available in underground mines are based on line (wired) communication principle, hence these are unable to withstand in the disaster conditions and dif?cult to deploy in inaccessible places. Therefore, wireless communication is an indispe- able, reliable, and convenient system and essential in case of day-to-day normal duty or disaster situations.

Wireless Communication in Underground Mines: RFID-based Sensor Networking focuses on the recent advances in wireless communication technologies for underground mines and other hazardous areas. This comprehensive book provides a unified foundation of wireless communication systems for transmission of data, voice and video, and incorporates intrinsically safe design and development aspects of circuits, which are essential for hazardous areas. Topics covered in this book include design and development of an intrinsically safe trapped miner communication system, shaft communication system, line-of-sight communication system, mine-wide communication system, and web based information system. RFID technology is also discussed in detail, including compatible system specific embedded software for underground applications and program codes for different devices.

Wireless Communication in Underground Mines: RFID-based Sensor Networking covers a wide range of wireless communication systems as well as wireless sensor networking, radio frequency identification devices, and intrinsically safe circuit design techniques for underground mines and other hazardous areas. Designed for practicing engineers, the book incorporates all the technical details starting from design, fabrication, assembling, intrinsic safety analysis, testing, laboratory and field trials, deployment and operations of different wireless communication systems.