GlobalData’s analysis considers keyphrases used over the last 90 days. Credit: Wikimedia

From autonomous vehicles that carry mined ore across countries to smart drones that investigate new cave systems inaccessible to humans, advanced technology is affecting production, efficiency and safety across the mining industry. Analysts at GlobalData have unveiled their list of the top digital mining influencers who have been shaping the conversation around technology in the sector this year.

 

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PDAC

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada is a non-profit organisation based in North America that aims to encourage sustainable and responsible growth in the global mining industry. The group boasts more than 8,000 members and the 2019 edition of its annual convention saw more than 25,000 people attend to discuss the future of the sector.

  • Twitter followers: 17,100
  • GlobalData influencer score: 85%

 

IMARC

With the sixth edition of its flagship event scheduled to take place in October this year, the International Mining and Resources Conference focuses on a range of technologies, from artificial intelligence to blockchain. This year’s event is set to feature Rio Tinto CEO Jean-Sébastien Jacques, and Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gains.

  • Twitter followers: 8,275
  • GlobalData influencer score: 76%

 

Mining Bridge

The US-based firm aims to connect key individuals in the mining industry to events, job openings and networking opportunities around the world. The company is connected to a number of other key influencers, including the PDAC and CIM.

  • Twitter followers: 11,800
  • GlobalData influencer score: 72%

 

SAP Mill and Mining

German technology giant SAP is heavily involved in the mining industry, with its Mill and Mining division offering a number of solutions from 3D-printed buildings to automated transportation. The group benefits from SAP’s global reach and has been engaging with a range of topics on social media this year, including artificial intelligence, the internet of things and predictive analysis.

  • Twitter followers: 11,100
  • GlobalData influencer score: 63%

 

CIM

The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is one of the oldest mining organisations in the world, with a 121-year history dating back to the 19th century. The CIM aims to collect information about the mining industry to create what it calls a “robust, connected and engaged CIM community.” The institute regularly engages with members of the Canadian mining sector through meetings and a series of annual reports.

  • Twitter followers: 5,926
  • GlobalData influencer score: 61%

 

Kespry

Californian technology firm Kespry provides drones to a range of industries, including construction and mining and emphasises data collection and analysis as key elements of its work. The company claims to have reduced labour costs associated with data collection by 84% since implementing its drones, and improved the accuracy of data collected, for use in the planning and construction of mines, by 80%.

  • Twitter followers: 4,567
  • GlobalData influencer score: 59%

 

Ron Loewen

The only individual to be named in GlobalData’s top ten, Loewen is a former stockbroker with 30 years of experience working in venture capital, and 40 years of experience with Canada’s top mining firms. He has talked at length about the future of digital mining, from artificial intelligence to robotics, but also environmental issues and emission control.

  • Twitter followers: 7,749
  • GlobalData influencer score: 58%

 

Komatsu

Engineering firm Komatsu produces vehicles and machinery for the mining industry, and integrates technologies such as autonomous control into a number of its systems. The company has released automated haulage systems, and has won awards for the safety benefits of its automated processes.

  • Twitter followers: 3,238
  • GlobalData influencer score: 56%

 

Dassault Systèmes

With over 50,000 Twitter followers, France-based Dassault has considerable global reach, having worked with companies from Boeing to Amazon over its 38-year history. The company is heavily involved in modelling and simulation work, and aims to improve the safety and productivity of mine sites in remote locations.

  • Twitter followers: 56,800
  • GlobalData influencer score: 54%

 

Airobotics

Israeli firm Airobotics provides automated drones for a number of industries, including oil and gas extraction and mining. The drones are used to complete mapping work and can provide support for security and surveillance programmes. The firm’s drones were the first in the world to be certified as fully autonomous beyond visual line of sight. It reflects the increasing importance of unmanned vehicles in the mining industry that two of the entries on this list are companies specialising in drone technology.

  • Twitter followers: 5,126
  • GlobalData influencer score: 53%

 

Methodology

GlobalData’s influencer score is calculated by identifying and analysing the usage of industry keyphrases across Twitter and company websites, then identifying the users, both companies and individuals, who use these terms.

This produces a longlist of potential influencers, which is then further sorted in a second stage of analysis, where the company’s algorithms balance the relevance of the keyphrases used, the network of the influencers using them, how the network responds to the keyphrases, and finally how the keyphrases are analysed and interpreted by the influencers. These steps determine the final score given to each influencer, which dictates the final ranking.

A more detailed daily analysis is available here for GlobalData subscribers.