THE Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM) is set to advance its Mining Tenement System (MTS) into an AI-enabled smart governance and monitoring system aimed at transforming the regulation of the mining and mineral sector through artificial intelligence, data analytics, GIS and IoT. The initiative was announced by Pankaj Kulshrestha, Controller General, IBM, while inaugurating a one-day workshop on ‘Approach to transforming data into intelligent governance through an AI-enabled Mining Tenement System (MTS)’ organised jointly by the Nagpur Chapter of the Mining Engineers’ Association of India (MEAI) and IBM here, recently. In his welcome address, Dr Y G Kale, Chief Controller of Mines (MDR), IBM, said the adoption of AI-enabled tools had become inevitable across sectors and that mining could not remain an exception. D B Sundara Raman, National President, MEAI, emphasised the importance of timely and technology-driven decision-making in the mining sector.

 

He appreciated IBM’s efforts towards creating a transparent and efficient regulatory framework and said the vast data repository of MTS should be converted into real-time applications and predictive models. R D Borole, Technical Director, National Informatics Centre (NIC), said NIC was ready to work closely with IBM in taking MTS forward to MTS 2.0. Puspender Gaur, Controller of Mines (MTS), IBM, presented the roadmap for AI/ML-based Intelligent Mining Governance. Superintending Mining Geologist Sanjay Girhe and Junior Mining Geologists Abdul Samad Khan, Swati Sharma and Mohammed Zaid presented key upgrades to the MTS Data and GIS modules and outlined enhanced features of the Returns, Star Rating and other MTS modules. The workshop concluded with a valedictory session presided over by Dr Y G Kale. Narasiah, Secretary General, MEAI, and G Ram, DCOM, IBM and Secretary, MEAI, Nagpur Chapter, were present. Ashish Mishra, DCOM, IBM, proposed the vote of thanks.