Abstract

For the third time, the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies of RWTH Aachen Universi-ty is hosting the international "Smart Mining Conference" (former Forum Bergbau 4.0) at the Tivoli in Aachen on 19 and 20 December 2019. Using best-practice examples, the conference will highlight different approaches to digitisation and automation of mining processes. This will provide a practical illustration of the priorities and long-term visions with which international mining companies, machine manufacturers and IT companies are meeting the challenges and opportunities of digitisation and automation in mining. In this context, smart mining not only includes the interaction of data generation, data evaluation and data usage in mines, but also the interaction of technology, process, people and environment. This also includes how and whether digitisation and automation of mine processes can create long-term and sustainable value. Against this background, the "Smart Mining Conference" aims to provide answers to the fol-lowing key questions: What challenges and opportunities does digitisation present for the min-ing industry? What influence do digitisation and automation have on the operating processes in mines? What will the mine of the future look like? Where is the mining industry on its way to Mining 4.0? In this sense, the "Smart Mining Conference" offers a platform for the exchange between industry, research institutions and associations on success factors for the mine of the future based on insights from leading mining companies and technology providers. Two keynotes held by representatives of international mining companies will present global trends in the field of digitisation and automation of mining processes, and will show how the future of mining can be shaped using methodically developed scenarios. The conference language is English and German with corresponding translations.