The Future Focus
The mining industry has witnessed rapid advancements in various digital technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, and Automation. However, the real value of these technologies lies in how effectively they are implemented (and integrated) into the mining processes.
While the mining companies themselves possess a profound understanding of their operational challenges and associated risks, software vendors play an important role in developing new groundbreaking tools that unlock significant value. Collaboration among all stakeholders is essential, and adopting an open platform can efficiently gather and harness valuable data for the industry’s benefit.
In Seequent’s Beyond the Hype insight paper, a group of experts – including the IntelliSense.io team – has examined how new technology is being developed and deployed to make mining operations safer, smarter, and more cost-effective.
Must Accurate Data be Harnessed?
At the heart of modern mining lies data, and its utilization is critical for ensuring smooth operation. However, numerous challenges surround its application – should everything be initiated by the data, or should data merely be assessed to deliver a desired outcome?
For most experts, industry leaders must have a clear understanding of their goals, desired ROI, and available solution options to achieve those goals. Lastly, they should consider the data requirements that will drive the solution.
As Grant explains, simple things such as the placement of sensors at particular sampling locations make all the difference in predicting performance. From his experience at IntelliSense.io, it is necessary to look at the use case and then apply the data capture to drive the solution.
This requires working very closely with the miners, their data analytics teams, the individual operational sites, and different vendors to make sure we all have the same data model, and the same definitions, and that we’re fixing data issues at the root source.
This approach can also deliver secondary benefits.
One such simple example is removing inconsistencies in the labeling of stockpiles and their boundaries.
In this case we can use data to provide clarity – whether to understand if the material was dumped where was supposed to be or to fill any gap with AI, for example, using the GPS Smart Filling feature from IntelliSense.io’s Stockpile and Inventory Optimization Application.
Without the very latest geological data, the model will be flawed and could compromise the cost of extraction and the safety of the operation.
A Crucial Adoption
Mining operations find themselves at a crucial tipping point in their history. The demand for critical minerals necessitates higher ore outputs, but this must be achieved sustainably to support net-zero goals. Embracing new technology is paramount for the industry to enhance performance and safety standards while aligning with the net-zero initiative.
Significant technological advancements are currently in progress, including the cutting-edge IntelliSense.io Scientific-AI* approach. Hosted in brains.app, our transparent and trusted AI platform supports our suite of real-time decision-making applications that optimize every unit process from mine to market.
*Scientific AI is the fusion of physics models with machine learning techniques. It was developed by Intellisense.io to further increase net metal production through the use of our AI solutions.
