SIMULATORS
workforce without impacting with production is
key to minimise these risks within autonomous
or tele-remote operations.”
In addition to minimising risks within
autonomous or tele-remote operations,
Immersive Technologies Autonomous and Tele-
remote Training Solutions have been utilised for
business improvement initiatives with
impressive results. As an example, a West
Australian iron ore site running autonomous
haulage operations utilised Immersive
Technologies’ Autonomous Training Solution to
optimise the skills of their dig unit operators
who have a high overall impact on site
productivity. This improved instantaneous and
production dig rates while reducing spot
creation time per truck, wait time per truck and
exception time per truck. So far, Immersive
Technologies have implemented simulation-
based training solutions for Codelco, Freeport
Grasberg, Kazzinc, Rio Tinto, BHP WAIO,
NEMISA, and a Canadian Oil Sands site to
support their autonomous and tele-remote
system implementations.
Centralised or remote site
This is another interesting aspect of the mining
simulator market – whether miners choose to
deploy simulators at the remote mine site itself,
or in a centralised training facility either in an
urban area or in a hub within a mining region.
Immersive’s Arevalo stated: “Sustainable
value from simulation based training comes
from continuously improving the performance of
experienced operators. However, those same
operators have the highest direct cost and
(more importantly) opportunity cost to the
operation when removed for training. Therefore,
the most popular approach to simulation-based
training by far is to locate the simulator as close
to mine operations as possible – to minimise
their time away from operations. Typically
centralised training in urban areas is only
effective in the long term where they act as a
recruitment and selection tool for contractors
with high turnover, or where the urban area
itself is located with a significant mining
region.”
Mendes at ThoroughTec had this to say: “It is
definitely more prevalent to have simulators
based directly at the mine site. More often than
not, mines are situated in remote regions, far
removed from urban centres and as such, the
logistical burden and operational inefficiency
shipping employees to and from these urban
centres for training makes such locations
unattractive and promotes the localised
establishment of training facilities. A slight
exception to this rule, applies in instances
where a group of mines are located in relatively
close proximity to one another. In such
circumstances, they may establish a centralised
training centre, to service their collective needs.
An additional consideration of increasing
relevance in today’s more responsible and
locally sensitive mining environment is the fact
that having ones training centre and simulators
in situ allows the mine to better support
recruitment from, and development of local
communities.”
Owned or leased
Mendes adds on whether most mines prefer to
own the simulator or lease it: “Although we
offer purchase, leasing and rental options,
outright purchase remains the most popular
form of acquisition. Simulators represent a
significant long-term investment in workforce
development and training and as such are
usually considered a capital asset just like OEM
mining equipment. In the long-term, outright
purchases are far more economical. We have
simulators out in the field that are over 15 years
old now, and still in active use. Our leasing
option is simply a facility we offer our clients to
assist them in financing their capital purchase
over a longer period of time. Finally, our rentals,
cover the gap in the market where a mine has a
very specific, time-limited training requirement,
such as a ramp-up, without the need for
ongoing training provision.”
Immersive echoed this, stating that while
there is a growing demand for rental and
financed solutions, that the vast majority of
simulation hardware is still purchased outright.
Graduation time
One aspect of simulator training that is unclear
is when the operator is deemed ready for the
real machine and whether this is dictated by the
mine’s own standards of proficiency or whether
it is set by a grading method on the simulator,
or if both of these approaches can be
connected. Immersive told IM: “Operators
transition from simulator training to live
Generally operators are required to be able to
perform all operationally relevant vehicle
functions safely and in the context of broader
mine standard operational procedures, before
being declared competent. This shows training
for a Cat D10T crawler dozer on a ThoroughTec
CYBERMINE simulator
equipment when they are considered ‘mine
ready.’ Mine ready means the operator has met
competency standards determined by the mine.
Typically this involves being deemed competent
in usage of controls, operating within OEM
parameters, safe machine operation and
production methodologies.”
Mendes at ThoroughTec stated: “This varies
from mine to mine, but generally operators are
required to be able to perform all operationally
relevant vehicle functions safely and in the
context of broader mine standard operational
procedures, before being declared competent.
Simulators are a perfect tool to help new
operators lay down and then reinforce the
practical application of theory, and thereby
develop the necessary level of skill to be
deemed competent. CYBERMINE Instructors
have the ability to set a number of scenario
parameters and associated evaluation criteria,
providing either broad-spectrum, or very
narrowly focused assessment of operator
capabilities.”
Contractors, OEMs and sims
In certain parts of the world, notably Indonesia
and Australia, contract mining dominates the
market, so it is to be expected that these
players would have the same need for simulator
training as the big miners themselves – that
said contracting is finite and generally not for
life of mine. Equally, simulators are increasingly
being offered by the major equipment OEMs
themselves to enhance their at sale offering.
Mendes stated in relation to sims demand
from contract miners: “We have noticed a small
uptick, but possibly not in line with outsourcing
DECEMBER 2018 | International Mining 29