MINING CONSULTANTS
( DFN)-based consultancy to various industries since the early days of the DFN approach. It leveraged this to develop the world’ s first commercially available DFN software, FracMan, which in combination with its in-house consultants solves rockrelated problems around the globe.
GoldSet, meanwhile, is a web-based set of tools that integrates a rigorous, multi-criteria analysis approach, geospatial information management and the ability to forecast project performance. It offers a simple, systematic process to help clients evaluate alternatives or monitor ongoing projects, according to WSP.
WSP is making a case for further investments in this portfolio of tools, according to Griffiths, looking at targeted investment in scalable platforms and digital solutions that address industrywide challenges, as well as empower WSP engineers and scientists to help them continuously improve how work is delivered.
Griffiths cautioned:“ There is no single technology solution that will benefit every client or every project. The greatest value comes from creating an environment where technical experts can identify opportunities, challenge existing approaches and use technology to improve efficiency, consistency and outcomes.
“ When that culture of innovation is combined with the right digital capabilities, the impact extends well beyond any individual software platform.”
Experts harnessing technology
SRK Consulting’ s use of technology continues to evolve with client and industry needs, and as technologies improve. Tim McGurk, the Group CEO for SRK, noted:“ Technology is an important enabler for SRK Consulting, but its value depends on the judgement and experience of the people applying it.”
“ For us, it’ s not about having technology that other peers don’ t; most firms can buy tools,” he told IM.
“ One thing that sets SRK apart is our long history of developing and applying technology in response to real mining industry problems. For example, SRK has helped conceptualise and build key industry tools, including Gemcom and Leapfrog.”
Developing technology to solve client problems is part of SRK’ s culture, McGurk noted, with its teams taking a practical view on which tools to use, when to adapt them and how best to pair them with the right expertise to provide value to clients.
“ For SRK, the potential of technologies, such as AI and machine learning, lies in helping our experts work through information more effectively, focus on the issues that matter most and deliver deeper insight for clients,” he said.“ We’ re not using technology to replace people; we’ re using it to help our experts spend more of their time doing what they do best.”
Like others speaking on this subject, SRK sees the changing regulatory environment and increased mining complexity placing greater demands on its specialists and the projects they support.
“ Technology helps us keep project information accessible and reviewable, so specialists across disciplines and regions can work from a shared foundation – making it easier to coordinate geology, geotechnical, mining, environmental and other inputs when projects require integrated advice,” McGurk said.“ The aim is to support our standard workflows, so our experts can apply their judgement consistently as the volume and complexity of project information increases.”
This ability to bring together specialists across disciplines is becoming increasingly important as mining projects grow more complex, SRK believes, giving clients a fuller picture of their assets and risks rather than a view limited to one discipline or set of inputs.
One such area where the company has developed tailored tools to solve client problems is in machine learning applied to both mineral prospectivity and automated core logging. McGurk explained:“ Mineral prospectivity mapping involves the processing, integration and interpretation of various geodata layers( eg geodynamic, lithological, structural, geochemical, remote sensing and geophysical) to systematically combine them into data- or knowledgedriven prospectivity maps. This often requires innovative methods and custom solutions to achieve specific goals with the available data in different geological contexts and commodities.”
SRK has developed mineral prospectivity maps for large districts worldwide, including for Western Australia, Scandinavia, South America and the Middle East, leveraging this machine-learning expertise.
Automated core logging, meanwhile, uses machine learning, computer vision and, more recently, large language models to identify and log geological features( eg veins, breaks, fault gouge) from drill core photos. This traditionally relied on manual descriptions and measurements collected by multiple geologists over years of core logging. SRK’ s machine-learning methods in this area have led to a growing automated core logging service, which has now logged over 2.6 million metres of core.
The company believes the consultancies that succeed in the future will be those that know how to apply technology without losing sight of the expertise clients rely on.
“ SRK has always been driven by discovery, including the development and adaptation of mining technologies,” McGurk said.“ That experience has given our consultants a grounded, practical sense of where new tools can add value to clients’ projects. Our focus remains on solving client problems through the combination of technical judgement, practical experience and appropriate technology.”
Real-world value
Ralph Smith, GEOVIA Management Director, is also seeing a sea change in the way the mining sector tackles ongoing challenges, stressing the need for collaboration to provide successful solutions.
“ We place real value on partnerships with
Automated core logging uses machine learning, computer vision and large language models to identify and log geological features( eg veins, breaks, fault gouge) from drill core photos, SRK says
International Mining | SEPTEMBER 2026 49