**6. Traditional and novel technologies**

In the previous sections, we described the semiconductor material market, main players, applications, challenges, and prospective and we understood that the raw material for semiconductor applications is a booming market. The mining sector that provides the raw materials will need to grow tremendously to enable the required technological demands. Technological innovation should satisfy the growth market need, but need to be also eco-friendly and at low cost. Some people refer to sustainable technology as the society economic equilibrium between raw materials, land, industries, sites, and industrial resources like workers, technology, equipment, machinery, fuels. This model comes more into focus as we are threatened by climate change and environmental degradation [29].

The most innovative technologies predicted to transform mining industry include robotics, autonomous haulage systems, remote operating, and monitoring centers as described in [30]. We will focus in particular in light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology. LiDAR blocking diagram is composed of laser, light detector, signal and data processor, CPU, and display.

LiDAR is a remote sensing technology based on time-of-flight principle: A target is illuminated with a laser, the laser pulses travel at the speed of light to the object, and

**Figure 7.** *LiDAR working principle adapted from Reference [31].*

*Understanding the Need of Raw Materials, and Eco-Friendly and Cost-Effective Methods... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108922*

the laser is then reflected back to the sensors as illustrated in **Figure 7**. The time taken for the pulses to hit the object and be reflected back to the sensor is calculated and then used to calculate the distance to the object [31].

LiDAR can be used in many fields such as oil and gas exploration, geology, mining, and robotic mining. The information gathered by LiDAR can identify the areas with oil or gas deposits to help geologists know exactly where they need to mine. It can also help to determine the soil structure where the crops or species of plans can grow in a particular region.

Advanced LiDAR technology can detect what minerals exist in a given area and can analyze the mine's structure to prevent them from collapsing after mines have been drilled for minerals.

In robotic mining, LiDAR sensors are used in obstacle detection during mining by the robotic mining vehicles, to prevent the human risk [32].
