SUCCESS STORY:

DATAGRADE

SIMULATE, CONTROL AND ESTIMATE MINING PLANS WITH GREATER PRECISION

Our client, with open-pit copper mining operations, faced the need to digitalize, automate, and optimize the process of developing mine assumptions to generate short-term mining plans. The process was previously done in an Excel format, which required the planning team 2 to 3 days to run a set of mine assumptions due to the large volume of data involved.

Client:

NEEDS WE SOLVED

ACHIEVE A HIGHER LEVEL OF PRECISION IN MINING PLAN ESTIMATIONS

The need was identified among planning area users to obtain more accurate simulation results in order to align their short-term plans with actual conditions.

REDUCTION OF MINING ASSUMPTION PROCESSING TIMES

The time required to process mine assumptions using the conventional Excel format took 2 to 3 days to obtain the final result. Our multidisciplinary team worked to implement DataGrade, enabling users to achieve reliable results in a much shorter timeframe.

2D/3D WEB PLATFORM IMPLEMENTATION

Robust simulation models were developed to adjust operational changes, ensuring the reliability of results. Additionally, we implemented a 2D and 3D haulage visualization module. The deployed web application integrates data on topography, mining cuts, routes, equipment delays, as well as plant and maintenance information.

ASTAY SYSTEMS SOLUTION

Based on the client's requirements and needs, we proposed implementing the DataGrade web application, designed to adapt to the company's operations and Cloud environments. The application is integrated with simulation models developed by ASTAY and enables the 3D visualization of haulage routes.

To achieve the objectives set with the users, the following methodology was used:

1.

Analysis of the current mine assumption generation process

2.

Analysis of inputs for generating assumptions (plant, mine and maintenance)

3.

Development and connection of simulation models of mine assumptions

4.

Implementation of DataGrade application in the company's Cloud production environments connected to the simulation models.

OPERATION FLOW

VALUE CONTRIBUTION

SPECIALIZED IN MINING

We deployed a specialized team with expertise in the mining business to work on-site at the mining unit, ensuring agile management with users to fully understand their requirements and needs.

ADAPTABILITY TO COMPLEXITY AND AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Our team worked diligently to provide users with an application that offers reduced processing times. With the support of the on-site team, we gained a clearer understanding of their needs, operational challenges, and system requirements, which ultimately allowed us to enhance performance.

AGILITY TO RESPOND TO REQUIREMENTS

Having a team on-site at the mining unit allowed us to quickly address the users' requirements and needs. Additionally, we had a team of developers and data scientists with experience in mining projects, which facilitated effective communication between the teams.

RESULTS

Positive results were achieved for the area through digitization and the implementation of our solution:

1

High level of confidence

The implementation of DataGrade achieved a 92% accuracy in the estimation of mining assumptions.

2

Reduced processing time

Thanks to our algorithms developed for simulation models, the processing time was reduced from 2-3 days to 5 minutes of processing to obtain the mining assumptions.

3

Detecting bottlenecks

The implementation of a 3D visualizer enables the detection of peak productivity times and identifies when queue issues or waiting times for shovels occur.