This paper reviews current trends in wearable device technology, and provides an overview of its prevalent and potential deployments in the mining industry. This review includes the classification of wearable devices with some examples of their utilization in various industrial fields as well as the features of sensors used in wearable devices. Existing applications of wearable device technology to the mining industry are reviewed. In addition, a wearable safety management system for miners and other possible applications are proposed. The findings of this review show that by introducing wearable device technology to mining sites, the safety of mining operations can be enhanced. Therefore, wearable devices should be further used in the mining industry.

The present study analyzed the potential of eight operational mining sites in Uzbekistan for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems: Sarmich, Ingichka, Kuytosh, Yakhton, Chauli, Sherobod, Chorkesar, and Tebinbuloq. A PV system with 1 MW capacity, which required a total of 4926 m² of project land, was considered. The renewable energy analysis software RETScreen, developed by Natural Resources Canada (NRC), was used to calculate energy production, greenhouse gas reduction, and financial factors of the PV systems in the selected study areas. The iron mine Tebinbuloq in Karakalpak showed the highest potential, with annual electricity production of approximately 1685 MWh, equating to a potential reduction of approximately 930 tons of greenhouse gases. The economic benefit of the PV system in this mine was $2.217 million USD net present value with a project payback period of approximately 13 years. The results of precision checks of satellite- and ground-based solar measurements showed high correlations; hence, satellite-based data can be applied for solar project assessments where solar monitoring meteorological stations are not available.