What was once just a vision is starting to become a reality – the ‘digital quarry’. Driving this transformation are technologies such as 5G, GPS, LiDAR, augmented reality and artificial intelligence. Whether it is the evolution of fully autonomous trucks and loaders, the remote control and monitoring of on-site plant and equipment, or the use of drones for face and stockpile surveys, digitalization will continue to transform the way people work and the roles they play in the quarry.

Advanced automation and control systems have already made huge inroads into the quarrying sector over the last two decades, but with ever-increasing growth in the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), cloud-based technology, machine connectivity and the remote management and monitoring of plant, machinery and processes, what will the next 20 years hold in store for industrial automation and control? Clearly, digitalization is no longer a choice, but an imperative.

The way quarry companies do business is also being transformed by digitalization. From new back-office business software and customer relationship management (CRM) systems to the growing use of electronic proof-of-delivery (e-POD) systems and novel mobile device-based apps, enhanced business solutions and technology are set to help deliver greater levels of operational and commercial efficiency. And central to this will be the all-important issue of cyber-security.