Imagine a mine where every worker, machine, and air sensor is connected to one smart dashboard — like a Fitbit for the entire operation. The system watches worker safety in real time, predicts when equipment will break down before it does, and tracks environmental impact automatically. It even uses digital twins (virtual copies of the mine) so managers can test changes on screen before making them underground. The goal is to bring the same kind of smart-factory technology that car plants already use into mining, which has been slow to modernize.
By the numbers
17%
Increase in mining efficiency
20%
Increased OEE for machines
18%
Increased OEE for loading
19%
Reduction of CO2 equivalent emissions
310
New jobs created (projected)
€28M+
ROI for the consortium (projected, 4-year horizon)
€224B
European mining and quarrying turnover
21
Consortium partners
10
Countries represented
The business problem
What needed solving
Mining operations across Europe are under pressure to improve efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and keep workers safe — while most mines still run on outdated, disconnected systems. Industry 4.0 technologies have transformed manufacturing and logistics, but the mining sector has been slow to adopt IoT, predictive maintenance, and digital twins. This leaves mining companies with preventable equipment failures, higher CO2 emissions, and safety risks that smarter technology could reduce.
The solution
What was built
The project built a smart Industrial Internet of Things platform (IIoTp) that connects sensors at three levels — human biometrics, machine assets, and environmental monitors — into a unified system. It includes digital twin modeling, blockchain-based sustainability compliance labelling, predictive maintenance tools, smart scheduling, an interactive decision support system (DSS), and EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) monitoring. A total of 28 deliverables were produced.
Audience
Who needs this
Mining and quarrying operators looking to reduce equipment downtime and boost efficiencyEHS managers at extractive industry companies needing real-time worker safety monitoringEnvironmental compliance officers at mining companies facing stricter EU CO2 regulationsIndustrial IoT vendors seeking a proven platform architecture for the mining verticalTechnology scouts at raw materials companies evaluating predictive maintenance solutions
Business applications
Who can put this to work
Mining & Quarrying
enterprise
Target: Mid-to-large mining operators running open-pit or underground extraction sites
If you are a mining company struggling with equipment downtime and rising maintenance costs — this project developed an Industrial IoT platform that connects sensors across workers, machines, and environmental monitors into one system. It demonstrated a 20% increase in Overall Equipment Effectiveness for machines and a 17% boost in mining efficiency. The platform includes predictive maintenance so you fix equipment before it fails, not after.
Industrial Safety & Environmental Compliance
any
Target: EHS (Environment, Health & Safety) service providers and compliance consultants
If you are an EHS consultancy helping mining clients meet tightening EU environmental regulations — this project built real-time biometric monitoring for workers and environmental sensors that track CO2 emissions automatically. The system demonstrated a 19% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions. It includes sustainability compliance labelling powered by blockchain, giving your clients auditable proof of their green credentials.
Industrial IoT & Digital Twin Solutions
mid-size
Target: Technology vendors selling predictive maintenance or digital twin software to heavy industry
If you are a tech company looking to expand into the mining vertical — this project created a proven IoT architecture that collects data at three levels (human, assets, environment) and feeds it into digital twin models and smart scheduling tools. With 15 industry partners across 10 countries already involved, the platform offers a tested integration blueprint you can build commercial products on top of.
Frequently asked
Quick answers
What would it cost to implement this IoT platform in our mining operation?+
The project does not publish per-site deployment costs. However, the consortium projected over 28 million EUR ROI within 4 years after project end, suggesting the platform is designed to pay for itself relatively quickly. Contact the coordinator for pricing and pilot options.
Can this scale to a full commercial mining operation, not just a lab demo?+
The consortium includes 15 industry partners and 8 SMEs across 10 countries, which strongly suggests real-world testing conditions. The platform collects data from sensors at three levels — human, assets, and environment — and incorporates real-time market data, indicating it was designed for production-scale operations.
What is the IP situation — can we license or buy this technology?+
The project held a dedicated IPR seminar to clarify ownership and access rights among the 21 consortium partners. Licensing terms would need to be negotiated with the coordinator (INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE ARAGON, Spain). Given the large multi-partner consortium, different components may have different IP holders.
Does this help us meet EU environmental regulations?+
Yes. The platform includes sustainability compliance labelling using blockchain technology, which provides tamper-proof records. The project demonstrated a 19% reduction in CO2 equivalent emissions, directly supporting compliance with EU environmental directives for the extractive industry.
How long would it take to get this running at our site?+
The project ran from May 2020 to October 2024 and is now closed. Based on available project data, the platform integrates sensors, digital twins, and decision support tools that would require site-specific calibration. A pilot deployment timeline would depend on your existing sensor infrastructure and IT readiness.
Can this integrate with our existing mine management software?+
The platform was built as an Industrial Internet of Things platform (IIoTp) designed to connect cyber and physical systems. It incorporates market real-time and historical data alongside sensor feeds, suggesting open integration capabilities. The interactive decision support system (DSS) and smart scheduling modules were designed to work alongside existing operations.
Is there ongoing technical support or just a finished research project?+
The project is closed as of October 2024. However, with 15 industry partners and 8 SMEs in the consortium, several partners likely offer commercial services built on project results. The Final Workshop Conference showcased results to potential adopters. Contact the coordinator for current support options.
Consortium
Who built it
This is a large, industry-heavy consortium — 21 partners across 10 European countries with a 71% industry ratio, which is unusually high for an EU research project. Of those, 8 are SMEs, meaning smaller specialized companies brought specific mining-tech or IoT expertise alongside larger players. Only 2 universities and 2 research organizations participated, confirming this was application-driven, not academic. The coordinator is INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE ARAGON, a Spanish technology institute — a strong bridge between research and industry. The geographic spread (Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Spain, Finland, Italy, Norway, Serbia, UK) covers major European mining regions. For a business buyer, this means the technology was shaped by companies who actually run mines, not just researchers who study them.
Want to connect with the Dig_IT team to explore licensing or pilot deployment? SciTransfer can arrange an introduction and provide a detailed technology brief tailored to your operation.
