DIGITALIZATION, AUTOMATION AND USE OF EMERGINING TECHNOLOGIES Author – Rajiv Singh, General Manager(E&T) Western Coalfields Ltd. (A subsidiary of Coal India Ltd.) Nagpur, India. gmtelecom@coalindia.in ABSTRACT Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) has taken a giant leap forward with digital transformation and automation by using cutting edge modern technologies for smart and datadriven mining operations in Coal Production & Coal delivery to consumers. Various IT system such as CCTV based surveillance, GPS based Vehicle Tracking and RFID based access control & weighment automation, IIoT projects implemented across 47 coal mines and key establishments over a stretch of 450 Kms have been integrated to a single platform with a common Dashboard equipped with advance Video management software (VMS) and AI/ML analytics at ICCC. Two secure high end MPLS networks and a radio network have been established across WCL as media. Through ICCC, WCL is turning its regular monitoring & control system into a modern digital setup where every decision is based on real-time data with auto alerts to all stakeholders. Thus, providing an automated transparent coal evacuation and delivery system without human intervention; from coal face to consumer’s door. By adopting these technologies, WCL is developing a true decision-making hub, combining operations, safety, coal despatch and environmental monitoring under one digital system. This transformation is leading WCL towards smarter, safer, and more sustainable mining operation in India's coal industry. Chapter 1: Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) In a major stride towards digital transformation, Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), established its Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) at its headquarters in Nagpur on 27th October 2022. With operations spanning at 10 different areas across the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, WCL faced the challenge of centralizing real-time monitoring and response system across a vast and dynamic network. The ICCC functions as a centralized command hub, operating 24x7 facilitating real-time coordination of operations, safety, environment, and security and today stands as a hallmark of efficiency, transparency and as an advance emerging technology in the coal and other mineral sectors. A picture of ICCC at WCL HQ, Nagpur is given below.
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