Intelligent processes in the context of Mining 4.0: Trends, research challenges and opportunities

Industry 4.0 is a frontier topic of knowledge and is inserted into the innovation ecosystem thanks to the inclusion of information and communication technologies, supported by the cyber-physical systems and internet of things applied to industrial processes. The 4th Industrial Revolution describes the set of continuous transformations in the systems that surround us, it is also known as industry 4.0 and in the last five years, it has become a primary issue in the industrial economy. Industry 4.0 makes possible high potential scenarios in the industry, allows the disruption of a new industrial model. The convergence of new technologies transform sectors and markets, and the digitization of companies represents a radical change in the way of doing business. Mining is one of the sectors that have been supported with technologies associated with industry 4.0; these technologies have promoted the conditions for making strategic decisions using intelligent processes whose objectives are the digitization of the mining process and consolidation of the competitive position in the sector. This article links the concept of Industry 4.0 with that of Mining 4.0, it focuses on the discussion of trends, challenges, opportunities and technologies that the mining sector requires to successfully face them.