MINING SOFTWARE integrating cutting-edge AI and machine-learning capabilities into the GeoMine platform . It says : “ These innovations position GeoMine as a leading software solution for mining companies aiming to optimise operations , embrace sustainability and harness the full potential of their data .”
Tackling underground complexity
It is the release of a new solution for underground mining that has Micromine CEO , Andrew Birch , excited . During the announcement of its 2025 Release late last year , Birch highlighted the upcoming arrival of Micromine Advance , a new mine planning solution .
He explained : “ We ’ re thrilled to expand Micromine ’ s product ecosystem with Micromine Advance – the first and only dedicated tool designed to model the operational complexity of underground operations .”
This solution has been crafted to help engineers create realistic and detail-driven plans , according to the company . Using modern technology and purpose-built tools , it enables engineers to take a resource-driven approach to scheduling , providing the capability to confidently model intricate underground environments with new precision .
Key features of the solution include the ability to tackle complex problems by breaking everything down to first principles , and then creating dynamic and realistic schedules from there . The company explained : “ When your mine plans are built this way , you can be confident in your decisions , knowing you can trace everything back and understand each interaction in your plans .”
Micromine Advance also allows users to handle scenario management free from fragmented project structures and complicated auditing processes , with the solution allowing users to animate these scenarios side-by-side and compare the specifics with real-time reporting , the company says .
More realistic schedules can be built by accounting for inventory constraints that may impede mine production over time . This is achieved through an integrated approach to inventory management that allows users to forecast operational requirements over time . Micromine Advance has in-built tools to allow users to quickly highlight problem areas and implement solutions before a mine schedule is up and running , saving time and the need for manual work , according to the company . The software also provides new and creative ways to
set dependencies and use them to enhance the quality of mine plans .
Design network validation tools automatically audit mine design strings , prompt users when errors are detected and suggest solutions for consideration . “ This allows for a much more proactive approach to network validation that saves time and frustration later in the scheduling process ,” Micromine added .
Software-enabled hoist servicing
ABB is also seeing the benefit of looking to optimise hardware through the insights identified by software , with its most recent developments in hoisting making for a good example .
ABB Ability™ Smart Hoisting is a vital enabler of the World-Class Mine Hoist Maintenance ( WCM ) standard , seamlessly integrating digital tools to align with best practices for maximising safety , reliability and productivity , ABB says . The WCM standard , built on insights from a benchmark study of leading mining companies across six regions and eight commodities , highlights that over 90 % of maintenance activities should be proactive to achieve the highest availability . It also emphasises the importance of predictive maintenance strategies , which can reduce costs and failures by 50 % while increasing equipment lifespan by 30 %.
The benchmark study identified that customers using more proactive maintenance strategies benefitted from 15 % greater hoist availability than those using mainly reactive approaches , while , in the WCM standard , more than 90 % of maintenance activities should be scheduled .
Over the course of a year , this might add up to 52,560 minutes of increased uptime , equivalent to 36.5 extra operational days per year .
“ By utilising real-time monitoring and predictive algorithms , Smart Hoisting ensures maintenance is proactive and dynamic , aligning with the WCM recommendation and improving hoist availability by up to 15 % compared to reactive approaches ,” Veselin Donchev , Global
Product Manager , Hoisting Service , ABB , says . The software continuously tracks the condition of hundreds of key hoist elements across
ABB Ability Smart Hoisting is used as enabler and driver for proactive maintenance strategies , ABB says
electrical , mechanical and automation subsystems , directly supporting the WCM
standard ' s focus on holistic and systematic maintenance to minimise risks .
Donchev added : “ The digital platform provides comprehensive analytics and diagnostic reports that help operators prioritise maintenance tasks and avoid catastrophic failures , implementing the predictive maintenance roadmap outlined in the world-class maintenance report .”
The insights from Smart Hoisting also directly feed into ABB ’ s customised Care agreements , providing mining companies with a structured pathway to adopt and sustain the world-class maintenance framework .
Donchev concluded : “ In essence , ABB Ability Smart Hoisting not only fulfills the requirements of the WCM standard but also enables its practical implementation , empowering mining companies to achieve significant improvements in operational efficiency , safety and costeffectiveness .”
Principled software development
Datamine ’ s product strategy is guided by its customers and shaped by foundational principles , including Amara ’ s Law , introduced by Roy Amara in the 1970s , and the Adjacent Possible , introduced by Dr Stuart Kauffman in 2002 .
Amara ’ s Law states that we , as a society , tend to overestimate the impact of technology in the short term but underestimate its long-term effects . The Adjacent Possible principle highlights that innovation occurs incrementally , expanding what is achievable based on current technology and knowledge .
Scott Carpenter , Director of Technology , APAC , for Datamine , says a current example of the
International Mining | FEBRUARY 2025