China has completed its first successful integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and BeiDou satellite navigation in the coal infrastructure sector, marking a significant step forward in the industry’s digital transformation.
Original By NLS
China has completed its first successful integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and BeiDou satellite navigation in the coal infrastructure sector, marking a significant step forward in the industry’s digital transformation. The new system, developed by CHN Energy’s Digital Technology division, was recently deployed at the Xinjie Energy smart construction site. It combines 3D digital modeling with high-precision satellite positioning to enable real-time monitoring and intelligent management of mining operations.
At the heart of the system is a powerful combination of satellite-based location tracking, on-site sensor networks, and digital twin technology. By linking personnel and machinery to a centralized BIM platform, the system provides real-time data on movement, equipment status, and construction progress—all visualized in an interactive 3D dashboard.
The platform uses domestically developed BeiDou chip modules and overcomes key technical barriers in fusing complex, multi-source data. It can track workers and equipment with centimeter-level accuracy, trigger geofence alerts, and support automated progress tracking—all while operating in harsh industrial environments.
This innovation represents a major shift for coal infrastructure, which has traditionally relied on manual inspections and experience-based management. It enables a full digital lifecycle—from design and construction to operations and safety—bringing smarter, faster, and more proactive control to mining projects.
Crucially, the system transforms mine safety from reactive oversight to predictive risk management. It replaces “human guarding” with “tech guarding,” and moves decision-making from guesswork to data-driven precision—offering a practical solution for safer, more efficient coordination in high-risk industrial settings.