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The challenges of maintaining safe workplaces and improving operations and services in underground mines are unique. These have largely been mitigated by implementing new technology of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) in the last few years. Establishment and development of a reliable monitoring and communication network through such hostile environments are still major concerns. In this study, a more comprehensive monitoring and communication system for underground mine environments using ZigBee network are developed. To this regard, experiments with real systems and prototypes are applied. The controllable and uncontrollable parameters of both underground environment and network for the establishment of ZigBee network are also assessed. Then, a practical method to design a model of an underground mine monitoring and communication system is proposed. This model was verified by testing system functions and applications for example, temperature, humidity and illumination readings, text messaging, and controlling ventilation fans throughout an underground mine in Western Australia. The monitoring and communication systems operated successfully and it demonstrated the reliable outcomes of their function and application for underground mines.

An automated underground mine monitoring and communication system based on the integration of new technologies is introduced to promote safety and health, operational management and cost-effectiveness. The proposed system integration considering wireless sensor network (WSN) assisted geographic information system (GIS) enables to monitor and control underground mining applications from surface office. Based on the capabilities of WSNs, ZigBee network is adapted for near realtime monitoring, ventilation system control and emergency communication in underground mine. ZigBee nodes were developed to sense environmental attributes such as temperature, humidity and gases concentration; switching ON and OFF ventilation fans; and texting emergency messages. A trigger action plan for monitored attributes above normal and threshold value limits is programmed in the surface GIS management server. It is designed to turn the auxiliary fans on remotely or automatically in orange condition and sending evacuation messages for underground miners in unsafe (red) condition. Multi-users operation and 3D visualizations are other successful achievements of the proposed system for the underground monitoring and communication.