Chief executive of Becker Mining Systems Tony Napier or Stephan Becker will also be speaking about optimising mine productivity through reliable wireless at the conference.

The conference, to be held in Brisbane on March 13 and14, will use case studies to help delegates understand how to increase mine productivity and improve worker safety through the implementation and integration of communication and automation technologies.

Freeman’s presentation will outline how Carborough Downs analyses system components of the longwall using a shearer position monitoring system, shield control automated face alignment module and a shearer control INS-based automated horizon control module.

He will also be outlining hardware and software requirements for the automated longwall and challenges faced with its installation and operation.

Owens will present on development and improvements in longwall automation and tips on ensuring the reliability of data and instrumentation accuracy.

He will also cover base automation reliability and usage and face-alignment, horizon control and the future of longwall automation.

Senior research engineer earth science and resource engineering for CSIRO Dr Mark Dunn will talk about longwall automation technologies, covering automation face alignment, sensors and software for automatic horizon control, and open communication systems between longwall components.

Becker’s speaker will talk about modular radio solutions to guarantee communication underground and enabling the transmission of radio waves within the entire mine site.

Recording and tracking of people, vehicles, machines, and other moving objects will also be covered by the Becker speaker.

Called Mine Site Automation & Communication 2012, the conference will be held at the Chifley at Lennons hotel in Brisbane.