Application of IoT-Fog based real-time monitoring system for open-cast mines—A survey

Fog computing (FC) archetypes is in focus recently for its potential to utilise resources optimally by the Internet of Things (IoT) network bearing ample end-devices. This enhances the quality of service (QoS) to the proximity of end-users as latency-free processing is obtained in cloud-IoT-based environs. Mining industry will encounter a level-up due to these technological advancements like fog-IoT-based systems. Monitoring mining activities such as blasting, slope monitoring, and miner tracking are time-sensitive. Hence, instant response is demand of extreme mine environment so that life and property are not compromised. New opportunities emerge in mining since the FC approach addresses these demands depending on the demand of the situation/user. The parameters of integrating the state-of-art of fog, IoT, and cloud architectures are provided, and a Fog-IoT mines monitoring (FIoTMM) system for real-time monitoring of open-cast mines is proposed. This work also envisions the applications and future trends of FC concerning IoT and cloud. It emphasises how key features of fog help the system in achieving lower network influx, reduced latency, resource utilisation, and immediate data computation and storage because these services take place closer to point of data generation. This data can be immediately visualised/accessed and used to generate early warning in the mines.