The essence of the intelligent and innovation potential of a mining engineer

Abstract

The problem of slow innovative development in the mining industry in Russia has urged the studies into the structure and meaning of the intelligent and innovative potential of mining engineers. The review of literature and terminology on the notion of intelligence together with understanding and generalization of the collected knowledge revealed the functions and contents of the intellectual and innovative activities of a human being. The studies into the essence of the human intellect components made it possible to develop a functional hierarchy model of brainwork. The role and behavior of each component of intellect in the process of generation and implementation of engineering innovations are examined. The structure, forms and results of activity done by the cognitive components of intellect are determined. The definition of the conception of «innovation» is presented. Numerous definitions of the notion of «innovation» are reviewed, and their specifics and versions for mines are determined. The notion of «innovation» is defined for the mining industry as a result of introduction or improvement of tangible or intangible assets for implementation and producing beneficial effects in a mine. The essence of the scientific concept of «potential» is described as a set of methods, capabilities, reserves, sources and resources activatable and applicable in problem solving. Three levels and forms of appearance of a potential representative of its dynamics in time are described. The onthological background of advance as a transition from potential to real is shown. The essence of the intelligent and innovative potential of a mining engineer is defined as a degree of revealing intelligent and creative abilities of the mental power for organizational and technological innovations in combination with energy and will towards their efficient practical application in subsoil management. The in-depth insight into the concept content opens the door toward its next-level studying, modeling, assessment and selective evolution.