Some of the worlds leading coal mining experts will gather Aug. 3-5 at Lakeview Scanticon Resort and Conference Center for the 23rd annual International Conference on Ground Control in Mining.
West Virginia Universitys Department of Mining Engineering in th e College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is again organizing the event .
This conference series has evolved and grown steadily,said conference chairman Syd Peng, who is also chair of the Department of Mining Engineering.For the past 20 years, the topical areas addressed by the conference papers not only reflect the current critical problems in coal mine ground control, they also show the trends and solutions of the future problems.
The conference series was created to provide a forum to promote closer communication among all ground control professionals and improve theories and models used by practitioners in the field. Professionals in related disciplines discuss and exchange findings and experience s .
This year, more than 40 papers will be presented by speakers from all coal-producing states and seven foreign countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, South Africa and the United Kingdom. The paperstopics will include longwall mining, room and pillar mining, abandoned mines detection, surface subsidence, multiple-seam mining, surface mining, stone/quarry mining and roof bolting.
Lew Wade, associate director of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Washington, D.C., will give the keynote speech.
Dr. Wades presentation will address the evolution of ground control advancements resulting from the conference series and the significant impact the research findings have had on improving all aspects of mining,Peng said.
Under Pengs leadership, the WVU Department of Mining Engineering has organized and held 20 such ground control conferences and three surface subsidence workshops since 1981. It is recognized in both the United States and abroad as the annual forum for exchange of information among researchers, coal operators, manufacturers, consultants and government regulators.
The conference is sponsored by WVU , Agapito Associates Inc., CONSOL Energy, DuPont Fasloc Anchorage System, J.H. Fletcher&Co., MICON , Minova USA Inc., NIOSH and the West Virginia Coal Association.