economic and geotechnical requirements.
Mining in focus
often management does not recognise
the value these systems will bring to
their organisation,” he adds. Inadequate
time and resources to train employees on
software solutions is another challenge
encountered with mining software.
Valuable lessons learnt
According to De Klerk, one of the
common mistakes made by mining
companies with regards to implementing
software solutions is working in silos and
having numerous disconnected software
CaveLogic allows for testing various scenarios on the desktop for predictive analysis.
packages. “All the team players use different
software platforms trying to achieve the
CaveLogic allows operations to run multiple
using
all wastage
of their trying
Applications
same scenarios
goal, leading
to time
“Design
software
enjoys the benefits
of
exploration through to mine design and
economic,
geotechnical
and practical
considerations
before
mining
starts.
to consolidate the data from these
different
highly
sophisticated
software
solutions
and
production.
Specialised
modules on
that
handle
• Test various
scenarios
the
Planning
engineers
benefit
from transparency
across
the entire process.
packages,”
he says.
investments, as well as ore-body analysis and
drillhole
tools, seismic
interpretation,
implicit
desktop
for predictive
analysis
He says another common mistake
mineral
testing
or production.”
modelling and geotechnical analysis can be
Visualising
results
dynamically improves communication
is underspending on and
core provides
systems, and
•
Reduce
uncertainty
through
Technological innovations using
added to a base Eureka licence.
there
are also lessons
that can Planners
be learnt
informed
decision
support.
Mine
planning
is
streamlined
overall.
sophisticated software have had numerous
transparent calculations and
from a sequencing
management perspective.
“Project
can
track
variables
and
processes,
determine
and
generate
benefits for the mining industry. However,
3D visualisation
of results
Benefits
and challenges
of mining
managers
are
mainly
production-
production
plans.
it
cannot be denied
that complexities are
orientated, neglecting the proper
software
• Tighten integration through
inevitable with innovative technologies —
management of actual project costs
The strategic
approach
“Mining
companies
beginning
to see that
availability
of are
practical
production
leading
to many CaveLogic
challenges. “People
are improves operational productivity through
(finance-orientated).”
confident
they will
not with
succeed
in the future
unless they
fixated
with production
spreadsheets, planning.
being ignorant to
plans
strategic
schedules
“Companies should implement
change the way they operate. They need to
the associated risks. Complex spreadsheets
‘complete
solutions’
i.e., software
packages
•
Meet
KPIs
around
safety,
•
Flexibility:
Dynamic
approach
to
project
complexity
and individual
customer
use data-driven insights to drive value,” says
need to be understood and maintained by a
that speak to one another, which makes
efficiency
and
needs
De Klerk.
He adds
that productivity
organisations through
are
certain resource, placing further constraints
the project process easier. This will
beginning
to act on auditable
information results
to optimise
on the company,” he says.
repeatable,
• Productivity: Multiple parameters handled
when the
generating
streamline
reporting alternative
process and allow
production, reduce costs, increase efficiency, and
Other challenges associated with
for
big
data
BI
[business
intelligence]
scenarios
for
assessment
improve safety. “In short, data — and the ability
mining software are people’s resistance to
reporting
that
will
provide
the answers
to organise, manage, and process it — is rapidly
change.
Directly related
to this is change
• Auditability:
Transparent
calculations and
auditability of results for confident
to operational questions,” says De Klerk.
becoming a competitive differentiator and may
management
within
the
organisation
and
decision support
He believes this will enable organisations
even spawn new business models.”
people’s natural tendency to project their
to react
quickly to areas
of concern with
• IP
Communication:
Readily
results
for sequencing
confirmation
In addition, de Klerk notes that innovation
own
(intellectual property)
that visualise
was
operations.
related to continuous development, and
created
in the organisation.
• Automation:
Streamlined process improves
productivity,
safety
efficiency
Another
important
factor and
De Klerk
investment into new systems that will
De Klerk mentions management’s buy-in
highlighted
was
an
under-digitised
•
Integration:
Link
projected
economic
value
with
realistic
production
plans
as another challenge. “Implementation
enhance the mine’s values and profit margins
approach by organisations. He believes
should
be driven from the
top down and reporting
are among the software trends for mining.
• Accountability:
Comprehensive
management
of dynamic
it is for
best effective
to digitalise
all areas of an
processes
operation, from financials and project
controls
right through
to open
the ore pit
body
and
• Evaluation: Investigate relative feasibility
of underground
and
mining
mineral processing. “We believe that the
methods
project’s success lies in control. The right
software will give you not only control of
your actual spend, but an intimate level
of understanding of budgetary amounts,
quantities, rates and actual costs. Thus,
bringing all the key role players in the
company together, to make informed
decisions, from a complete holistic view of
the project costs.”
The application of software in mining
has had a positive impact on the industry
overall. However, many challenges lie
ahead in identifying problem areas and
finding solutions for them. “The key to
the overall success of any capital-intensive
project, is delivery on time and within
budget, while still maintaining your profit
margin,” explains De Klerk. Application of
the right software will assist with this.
“The right software with the right
controls will help you understand where you
have overspent, but more importantly, help
you to re-budget the project to completion,
highlighting upcoming problem areas,” he
says. As a result, management will be able
to take timely corrective action, which will
Maptek Eureka allows project geologists to visualise and interpret all available geospatial data.
result in cost savings.
The right software will give you not only control
Maptek Eureka
of your actual spend, but an intimate level of
Maptek Eureka allows project geologists to visualise and interpret all available
geospatial data. of
Drilling,
seismic,
gravity and
magnetic data, can be displayed
understanding
budgetary
amounts,
quantities,
dynamically in 3D to help drive discovery and generate accurate resource models.
rates and actual costs.
Applications
[28] MINING MIRROR JUNE 2019
• Work with disparate geospatial
Maptek Eureka allows users to work with all available geospatial data on
one platform. Easy identification of associations or anomalies can www.miningmirror.co.za
lead to
a better understanding of the resource.