Smarter mining for Europe: From autonomous drilling to real-time process optimization
Over three and a half years, researchers and industry partners have tested autonomous drilling, real-time material analysis and digital mine management in operational mines in Norway and Portugal.
DINAMINE project partners at the MCS Portugal processing plant in Mangualde, Portugal. The plant and the nearby Felmica open-pit mine made up the project's Portuguese pilot site, where new technologies for digitalized and more sustainable mining were developed and tested. ( NGI | Krister Jung-Lian)
As the DINAMINE project concludes, the results demonstrate how digitalization can help secure critical raw materials while improving efficiency and sustainability.
Technologies that can modernize mining operations
DINAMINE was a Horizon Europe innovation project led by NGI, the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, and carried out by a consortium of 11 partners from seven countries.
"Europe's future depends on secure and sustainable access to critical raw materials," says Sean Salazar, NGI researcher and project coordinator.
"As demand increases for minerals used in batteries, renewable energy technologies, and digital infrastructure, innovation projects like DINAMINE are helping strengthen Europe's ability to produce these resources responsibly while supporting the goals of the European Green Deal."
Mahdi Shabanimashcool (NGI).
The project focused particularly on the needs of small and medium-sized mining operations, where new technologies and digitalization can have a significant impact on productivity and financial sustainability.
"In the DINAMINE project, we brought geology, geomechanics, ore quality, economics, environmental footprint and production data together in one live mine model and used it to support decisions from the face to the processing plant," says Mahdi Shabanimashcool, lead adviser at NGI and the project’s technical coordinator.
To ensure the solutions addressed real industry needs, technologies were tested and validated at pilot sites in Portugal and Norway.
"At Skaland Graphite in Northern Norway, drill patterns generated automatically by our software were executed by AMV's jumbo with an accuracy of around five centimeters," adds Shabanimashcool.
A digital nerve system for mining operations
One of DINAMINE's key achievements was demonstrating how large amounts of operational data can be collected, shared and used across an entire mining operation.
Traditionally, mining data is stored in separate systems and used by different teams. DINAMINE demonstrated how these information streams can be connected and analyzed together, providing operators with a more complete understanding of their operation and a stronger basis for decision-making.
At the Portuguese pilot site, sensors were installed on equipment and throughout the processing plant, creating a continuous stream of data related to production, machine performance, weather conditions, energy use and water consumption.
Ignasi Vidal (Worldsensing).
"All this data is sent to the data storage platform, where the different models developed by the project partners can access it, process it and share information with other components," explains Ignasi Vidal from Worldsensing.
At the heart of the system is NGI's Mine Information Model (MIM), a 4D mine database that links measurements to mine geometry, resource models and production records. This allows data to be traced to where and when it was generated, creating a digital representation of the entire operation.
Real-time analysis from rock to final product
Every stage of mineral processing affects both profitability and environmental performance. By understanding exactly how much material enters and exits each step of the process, operators can identify losses, improve recovery rates and reduce unnecessary energy consumption.
To provide this insight in real time, DINAMINE developed and tested advanced sensing technologies capable of analyzing materials throughout the production process.
The technologies enable operators to continuously monitor material quality, resource consumption and production performance, creating opportunities for immediate adjustments and optimization.
Sadia Manzoor (Spectral Industries).
"Real-time monitoring involves measuring electricity, fuel and water consumption. Along with mass data from the input and output streams, all this information is used to calculate recovery rates, yields and carbon footprints," says Sadia Manzoor from Spectral Industries.
"We developed a tool that mine operators can use to make production more optimized and efficient, while also making the process more sustainable," Manzoor says.
The result is a more transparent production process, where operators can continuously balance productivity, resource efficiency and environmental performance.
Lower emissions and better investment decisions
Mining companies face growing demands to reduce emissions while maintaining profitability and operational performance. Meeting both goals requires not only new technology, but also a clear understanding of costs, emissions and long-term investments.
DINAMINE therefore examined not only how operations can be optimized today, but also how mines can prepare for a lower-emission future.
The researchers developed methods for carbon-footprint monitoring and life-cycle analysis covering the entire operation, from extraction to processing. This included evaluating how different vehicle technologies could reduce emissions while remaining economically viable.
Tazrin Ahmed and Miguel Muñoz Ortiz (SINTEF).
"For the big machines operating within the mine and in the transport of material, we look for alternatives that are low-emission or ideally zero-emission," says Miguel Muñoz Ortiz from SINTEF.
At the same time, the project evaluated the economic implications of adopting new technologies.
"We also look at the potential changes in vehicle operation and the total cost distribution in terms of investment and operational costs for both existing diesel technology and new alternatives, so mines can make good decisions when replacing machinery," Muñoz Ortiz says.
By combining environmental and economic analysis, the project provides mining companies with a clearer roadmap for transitioning toward lower-emission operations.
Turning mining waste into new resources
Not all valuable resources leave a mine as commercial products. Large volumes of tailings and waste rock are generated during mining and mineral processing, and these materials have traditionally been treated as waste.
DINAMINE explored how such by-products can instead become resources for other industries.
"Tailings and waste rock remain among Europe's largest underutilized secondary resource streams. We are looking into what type of products we tentatively can make out of these by-products, tailings and waste rock materials," says Christian Engelsen from SINTEF.
Among the possibilities explored are construction materials and low-carbon alternatives for the building sector.
"We are looking into how it can behave as a partial cement replacer and how the rock materials can be used as aggregate in different applications," he explains.
If successful on a larger scale, these solutions could reduce waste, create new value streams for mining companies and lower the demand for virgin construction materials.
From Senja to Portugal
While the Portuguese pilot site focused primarily on mineral processing and production optimization, the Norwegian pilot site demonstrated how digitalization can improve mine development underground.
In 2025, project partners successfully demonstrated a semi-autonomous drilling machine developed by the Norwegian company AMV and integrated with NGI's Active-Dig software. The system automatically generated drill patterns based on tunnel geometry and ground conditions, demonstrating how automation can improve both safety and operational efficiency in underground mining.
Read our previous article about the testing at Skaland Graphite to learn more about the Norwegian pilot site and the first underground demonstrations.
The work continues
Although DINAMINE has concluded, several of the technologies developed during the project are already moving towards commercialization, while project partners continue to publish scientific results and share their findings with industry stakeholders across Europe.
The project demonstrated how digitalization can support every stage of mining operations, from extraction and processing to environmental management and resource recovery. As Europe seeks to strengthen its supply of critical raw materials, the experience and technologies developed through DINAMINE provide an important foundation for future innovation.
Funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No. 101091541. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HaDEA. Neither the European Union nor HaDEA can be held responsible for them.
Mahdi Shabanimashcool
Lead Engineer / Lead Researcher Dam Safety and Hydrodynamics mahdi.shabanimashcool@ngi.no+47 462 72 593