Wireless Positioning in Underground Mines: Challenges and Recent Advances

Indoor positioning systems provide positioning capability to a wide array of applications. Although indoor positioning, in general, is challenging, harsh industrial environments pose unique challenges to wireless positioning, particularly in underground mining. This article reviews the state of the art of wireless positioning in underground mines. The requirements for key uses cases and the suitability of different wireless technologies are analyzed. Challenges and recent advances are also highlighted and explored. Several of these aspects are discussed from a South African perspective, where the mining industry plays an especially important role. Interesting possibilities for future work in wireless positioning for underground mines are also presented.