Preventing haul truck-related fatalities in open pit mining using gamified training simulation

Haul truck driving remains to be the most dangerous occupation in the mining industry (Kecojevic et al., 2007), leading in fatalities over other occupations in the mining industry. As the transition to autonomous haul trucks over the coming decades will not address thisproblem today, an immediate solution is needed that can be adopted at short...

Investigation of decarbonization options for load and haul equipment in quarry mining with case study Ipoh quarry, Malaysia

The importance of decarbonization in various industries is growing significantly, especially when it comes to LHD equipment in the minerals and metals industry. Conventional diesel load and haul (LHD) equipment used in quarrying and mining operations have drawbacks that result in the emissions of hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases that need to be...

Optimised fuel consumption of hauling mobile equipment achieved from speed optimisation using Simulated Annealing

The mining industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs. The transportation of materials within mining operations, especially using diesel-powered trucks, accounts for a substantial portion of both emissions and costs. Optimizing fuel consumption in this context is crucial for environmental...

Benchmarking of a battery loader and its impact on the Garpenberg mine

Safety Assessment for the Implementation of Autonomous Haulage Systems in an Open-Pit Mine

The implementation of autonomous haulage systems in open-pit mines is a progressive step in the industry, but it brings potential safety risks that need careful evaluation. This study developed a discrete event simulation model to analyze and evaluate these risks in different operating scenarios -fully autonomous, hybrid (a mix of autonomous and...

Implementation of spatial variability in PLAXIS

As a consequence of the difficulty to obtain complete direct information about the subsurface, and the importance of heterogeneity of soil properties in geotechnical design, a desire exists in the geotechnical community for a smarter use of the available data in common practice. The objective of this thesis is to provide a potential solution for...

Bayesian Evidential Learning applied to Mineral Resource Modelling to reduce uncertainties

Mineral Resource Modeling (MRM) is used to predict the properties of an orebody, however it does not come without uncertainties. Multiple approaches can be used to reduce the latter. Due to limited knowledge about the subsurface, predictions are difficult to be made. In this thesis the application of Bayesian Evidential Learning (BEL), in order...

An assessment of the underlying causes for the difference between theoretical and real-world production rates of mining shovels

The goal of a mining operation is to extract the maximum value from exploiting the orebody. The equipment used by these mining operations has a nominally rated performance to achieve needed annual production. However, this nominally rated performance is not achieved during operations. This study assesses the underlying causes of reduced shovel...

Digital Soil Mapping based on PDFs of Cone Penetration Tests and Vibro Cores using Image Processing and Machine Learning

Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) of soil types in geotechnical project areas is a top priority. These maps are often used in decision making and can have significant consequences related to costs and risks. Usually, these maps are generated by digital soil models that interpolate soil types at known locations. In practice, conventional spatial...

Development of an Explosive Energy Distribution Optimization System to accommodate drilling errors by adjusting blasthole charges

Open-pit mining blast patterns are designed to safely break rock mass at desired boundaries and to produce uniformly sized fragments that lead to the optimal performance of subsequent mining operations. An issue that is often overlooked, however, is the deviation of drillhole locations with respect to their coordinates as designed in the...

Simulation of an underground cut and fill mine: A simulation approach using SimMine to determine the systems bottlenecks and the added value of additional miners in the production shift

The case study consist of a small underground mine with a small mining crew. The vehicle park is relatively large, and therefore it is necessary to establish the added value of additional miners or equipment for short-term production planning purposes, assuming that staff size currently limits production capacity to find out if staff size is...

Development of a new smart evacuation modelling technique for underground mines using Mathematical Programming

Current evacuation plans for underground mines are inefficient and outdated. Simulations have proven that smart evacuation can significantly increase the efficiency of escape times in case of an emergency. In a smart evacuation, miners are given real time instructions on a smart device (such as a smart-watch) about their route to a safe haven if...