TECHNOLOGY waterways, the developing world is grappling with the consequences of a humbler revolution: automating construction sites, surface mining, and especially farming. What were once among the world’ s most labourintensive jobs may soon be run by smartphones, robots, and drones in a transformation as profound as mechanisation in the past century.
This shift will have serious implications for employment in the sector. Its greatest impact may not be in construction and mining at all, but potentially in the education sector where it will no longer be good enough to send a South African youth out with Grade 9. This country will soon require programmers, mechanics, and other specialists by the bucket load.
One aspect of E & C where there has been exponential changes in technology, is explosives. Blasting is a profession where just 30 years ago, construction and mining were still using the‘ light a fuse and run like hell’ philosophy.
Blasting technology
Simon Tose, AEL Mining Services( AEL) consulting mining engineer, says technology development and its adoption have been rapid over the past decade. However, the mining and construction industry has only recently truly realised the need to follow suit to remain relevant, safe, profitable, and efficient.
A strong focus on developing technologies and practices that enable safer working conditions has emerged within the sector. The idea of limiting human exposure to dangerous conditions is driving thought leadership in the realm of drill and blast. The concept of‘ manless’ operations( autonomous, or at the least, machinery remotely operated from a position of safety) is the ultimate goal, with many technologies already offering the benefit of‘ no full-time operator’ on-bench or in the quarry.
While automated construction and mining is in its infancy within South Africa, Tose describes what is possible by referring to some operations in Australia where“ load and haul trucks are‘ driverless’ and remotely operated by a joystick, blast holes are drilled without directly involving manpower, while electronic blasting systems, such as the AEL Intellishot™ system, enables remote firing capability, removing the blaster from the blast vicinity at blast time. A blaster is now able to successfully initiate a blast up to 2km away from the actual event, offering much safer operating conditions. The pre- and post-blast capability of the system enables a user to prevent a misfire from occurring, or to at least be warned that a misfire occurred during the blast and therefore prompt the team to take extra precaution during loading,” says Tose.
“ The future industry will require different skills; the employee of the future will need to embrace technology, be fluent in a coding language, and be analytical and able to solve problems through innovative equipment and software applications.
CEC September 2018- 23