MINING SOFTWARE
Launched last year in partnership with Augment Technologies , Hexagon BMI is billed as boosting blasting efficiency and providing high visibility into ore dilution for informed ore and waste delineation , post-blast
providing digital twins could be scaled to its mining clients .
“[ This could ] bring together our operational data and our planning data to allow our customers to make more informed decisions , to have better visibility of their risk and ultimately lead to a more sustainable and efficient mining operation ,” Forgues said .
Hexagon is progressively facilitating the move towards more sustainable and efficient mining operations , with the 2024 Release 1 for Hexagon MinePlan a case in point .
This solution , which provides geologists and engineers with powerful 3D modelling and data visualisation , now allows for the modelling of battery-electric vehicles , including the requirement for “ negative generation ” due to downhill momentum , Forgues explained .
The feature isn ’ t limited to just battery-electric vehicles ; it also allows other types of energy modelling / consumption within operations to be monitored .
“ This is something we ’ ve historically excelled at with fuel ( diesel ), which has been the predominant energy source for moving equipment in the past ,” Forgues explained . “ Our integrated haulage package , alongside our schedule optimiser and activity scheduler products , has made this possible with the same strategic goal of reducing energy consumption , which equals cost .”
One would expect this type of modelling optionality to be integrated with Autonomous Haulage Systems ( AHS ) in the future , allowing for trade-off studies that can help companies evaluate the benefits of different mine models and the setup of their operations in tandem with their fleet energy plans .
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The drill and blast process has also been identified by Orica as an area ripe for advancements , with the recent launch of Next Gen SHOTPlus™ looking to equip drill and blast professionals with the tools they need to quantify the impact of engineering decisions on both drill and blast and associated downstream impacts in near real time .
Powered by the Orica Digital Solutions platform , Next Gen SHOTPlus unlocks the power of the Model Through Time : a cloud-hosted , spatiotemporal , digital replica . This effectively represents a customer ’ s digital mine through space and time , providing a dynamic , data-driven replica of their mining operations to enable realtime tracking and storage of spatial data for enhanced and collaborative blast design and modelling , Orica says .
Matthew Craft , Senior Manager Technology – Software Products and Development , Orica Digital Solutions , says Next Gen SHOTPlus ’ capabilities are a representative example of the company ’ s advances in developing spatiotemporal digital twins to manage “ material , four-dimensionally through time and space ”.
He explained : “ A spatial twin managing material characteristics , densities and attributes simultaneously ( such as the Model Through Time ) requires significant data management not seen in an off-the-shelf product in our market before .”
Designed as a hub and spoke data management application that provides blast design control as a focal point , Next Gen SHOTPlus integrates with Orica products , such as Advanced Vibration Management , OREPro™ , the Orica Digital Solutions Platform physics movement model and more .
“ This is in addition to open integration with geology , mine planning and fleet management providers ,” Craft said .
Even with “ mature digital twin products ” such
as IES ( Integrated Extraction Simulator ) in its offering , Orica sees a future where more proprietary digital twins such as the Model Through Time are developed to enhance other products , with Craft naming BlastIQ™ Underground and OREPro specifically .
At the same time , Orica Digital Solutions has been integrating new hardware into its offering via the recent acquisition of Terra Insights .
Terra Insights is now an integrated part of Orica Digital Solutions , under the product category Geosolutions . It includes RST Instruments , which supplies geotechnical , structural and geospatial monitoring solutions including inclinometers and piezometers ; Measurand , which covers geotechnical deformation monitoring with its ShapeArray inclinometers ; 3vGeomatics , which uses InSAR ( radar ) to monitor subsidence and geohazards ; Syscom Instruments , which covers vibration and seismic monitoring using vibration monitors ; and NavStar Geomatics , which supplies vibration and seismic monitoring using GPS / GNSS .
Orica Digital Solutions Geosolutions are widely used in mining , particularly for tailings dam monitoring and slope stability monitoring .
Craft says the addition allows the company to further connect the upstream and downstream parts of the mining process .
“ As a blasting company , we are responsible for disrupting the orebody ' s structural and geotechnical integrity and , now , with these technologies complementing our Orebody Intelligence acquisition , we can manage both ends of the value chain spectrum ,” he said .
Synergetic product development has already begun , with basic prototypes entering customer operations to leverage complementing products , according to Craft .
“ As momentum gains , the value these development opportunities provide will continue for our customers ,” he added . “ This includes data from RST Instruments , Measurand , 3vGeomatics , Syscom Instruments and NavStar sensors , as well as GroundProbe ’ s radar information , which adds another unique layer of insight to an ever-growing database .”
More broadly , Craft sees Orica ’ s ongoing ability to develop leading hardware solutions as a defining factor in refining its software developments .
“ We do see our hardware footprint as a strength because a software solution or digital twin is only as good as the data ingested ,” he said . “ Even though instrumentation exists in key areas of interest , we see opportunities in capturing , organising and using the data better . We can make hardware more valuable by improving data acquisition time , short interval controls and the right data supplementation to provide the correct macro workflows and
12 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2025