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#Innovation

New partnership with Chilean R&D centre

30 March, 2022 by zeme capa

Amira Global is proud to announce a new agreement with the National Center for Piloting Technologies for Mining in Chile.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) – the most recent addition to the Amira Global Alliance – will help Members to fast-track innovation into a commercial product.

Amira Global CEO Dr Jacqui Coombes described the MOU as a “milestone”, marking the starting point of greater opportunities for Members.

 “I thank the National Centre for Piloting Technologies in Mining for joining our global alliance of visionary organisations dedicated to improving the mining sector,” Dr Coombes said.

“Our organisations share common objectives, particularly the promotion and implementation of breakthrough technology. Amira Global’s goal is deliver transformational research and development, and innovation into the mining community.

The MOU will be managed by Amira Global Head of Global Alliances Patricio Pastorelli, who is based in Chile.

In announcing the MOU with Dr Coombes, National Centre of Piloting Technologies for Mining General Manager Mr Patricio Aguilera said:  “The National Pilotage Center is called upon to contribute to making Chile a benchmark, a leader in terms of technology validation, both those that are developed locally, as well as international ones, incorporating high quality standards and more agile implementation processes that allow innovation projects reach the mining markets faster.”

The National Center of Piloting Technologies for Mining is focused on detecting, promoting and developing new technologies for mining. Technology is tested at the Center in realistic conditions to validate market potential. The Center is formed by the University of Chile, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the Federico Santa María Technical University, the University of Antofagasta, and the Association of Companies for Innovation, Minnovex.

The agreement will immediately open new opportunities for Members of Amira Global and those working with the National Center of Piloting Technologies in Mining. As Amira Global Members span the mining value chain and include Tier 1 and 2 mining operators, junior mining operators and exploration companies, and a wide range of METS, the benefits will be significant for the broader mining community.

For more information about the MOU, please contact Amira Global Head of Global Alliances Patricio Pastorelli on +56 9 6320 1556 or labol1680219852g.ari1680219852ma@il1680219852lerot1680219852sap.o1680219852icirt1680219852ap1680219852.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #globalalliance, #Innovation, #mining, chile

A view of industry’s future: book for the Austmine 2021 conference

20 April, 2021 by zeme capa

Cutting-edge mining technology and innovation will be on display in Perth next month at one of the largest industry gatherings since COVID began.

Amira Global is proud to be supporting the Austmine 2021: Harnessing Intelligence Conference and Exhibition as a Collaborative Partner.

The conference will be held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 25-27 May and is an ideal opportunity for mining and mining supply companies to reconnect.

The exhibition floor – which is almost sold-out – will be showcasing the latest in mining technology while a program of world-class speakers delivers insights into the sector’s future.

Harnessing Intelligence

Industry innovation leaders will explore the importance of optimising the interaction between people, processes and technology across the mining value chain, through the lens of Creating a Zero-Impact Future; The Power of Data; Optimising Connectivity; and the conference’s overarching theme, Harnessing Intelligence.

Tickets are on sale now! www.austmineconference.com.au

Filed Under: events, News Tagged With: #Austmine, #Austmine2021, #Innovation

Amira Global signs alliance with CEMI to fast-track innovation

24 November, 2020 by zeme capa

Amira Global and the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) in Canada are delighted to announce the signing of a Strategic Alliance.

The Alliance aims to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative mining solutions that emerge from research and development programs facilitated through both organisations, developed for the benefit of the global mining industry.

CEMI is a not-for-profit focused on delivering step-change innovation to significantly improve the performance of the mining industry.

As Canada’s leading source of mining innovation, CEMI offers leveraged programs and commercialisation services to help innovators deliver solutions to industry. 

This global partnership is ideally suited to deliver results to the mining industry through international collaboration and its focus on developing solutions that can improve the economic, social and environmental performance of the natural resources sector globally.

The CEMI-Amira partnership aims to provide pathways for successful implementation and commercial outcomes from R&D in multiple disciplines and industry sectors, bringing benefits to the mining industry, and our shared members, clients and stakeholders. 


For more information contact:

Dr Jacqui Coombes
CEO | Amira Global

Charles Nyabeze
VP Business Development & Commercialization | CEMI

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #Innovation

How Spatial Science helps to generate knowledge and insights in Mining

28 October, 2020 by zeme capa

Darren Mottolini

Chair – WA Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute.

In today’s society, we all understand the importance of having accurate, complete and current data in almost everything we do. We see this in how we plan our day, allocate work tasks and measure output from a day’s activity. Culturally we are driven by having the right data for the right purpose, and when we don’t have this, it causes, delay, frustration and potentially leads to more serious outcomes such as safety issues.

Over the past few years we have witnessed the integration of positioning sensors in a wide range of technologies providing insight of where an asset (whether people, equipment or infrastructure) is and when combined with data on how an asset is performing, it allows us to understand what is happening, where and potentially why. While positioning sensors provide us information on the location of our assets, people and infrastructure, simply knowing where something is does not answer the question “what happens next?”

This is what we call a knowledge gap. We are data rich yet without context of what the activity is, and the knowledge of what is required next we are forever interpreting the data, generally in separate systems.

It is potentially here, with accurate positioning that tracks key assets over time, that we find the opportunity to programmatically link it with the business operating context to bridge this knowledge gap. Let us break this down:

  • GNSS, known as Global Navigation Satellite Systems gives us the ability to identify our location (in coordinates) on the Earth and is typically used to track people, equipment and embed location (X,Y,Z[1] coordinates) into the data collected allow it to be mapped with other data. These systems (more commonly referred to as GPS which is only one of a number of constellations of satellites) enable us to add important context to our data. For example:

A pit wall has a base, a height and a degree of angle. These pit walls extend over an area and when mapped with precise locations can be used to automatically calculate the volume of the excavated area, if a wall is within tolerance or at risk and provide the ability to compare change over time.

  • Spatial, is typically identified as the GIS system that produces mapping information. These systems are in its simplest form a way to model and manage data, based on location, yet they enable a visual cue (i.e. a map) to where all your key information is. Depending on how you have structured the data model (i.e. its schema) the spatial data can be used to link to back end systems such as your asset information management (AIM) system.
  • Operating Context: This could potentially be anything although for the purposes of this article, we refer to context as the operational business outcome desired and the rules and processes that manage how the outcome is achieved.
Figure 1: Information flows through a number of systems allowing the user to answer their question

The challenge that faces many organisations is how to bridge this gap. Having accurate and precise position of key assets and people, and nowadays via micro sensors, tracking the mineral from block model to port can be contextualised through spatial systems. Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models are at the forefront of building operating context, to anticipate what may be required next based on the current and historical reference of data feeding into models. While excitement surrounds what ML and AI could deliver; accurate, consistent and complete data is required and this needs to be combined with human input of what are the tolerances, the expected behaviours and operating norms.

The spatial systems in place in many mining organisations are but a single system of many yet where we are able to increase the accuracy of our data, (helped through improved positioning to locate with certainty where anything is at a point in time) we can use this to visualise and improve integration across systems. This can then be improved by streamlining (automate) the integration of data across systems, which calls on codified business rules and processes helping us all to gain an insight   into what happens next.

This is not a large leap, in fact using ‘spatial’ as a mechanism to bridge this knowledge gap is aimed at the small 1% improvement areas across the mining ecosystem. Automating the collection and integration of data with spatial context supports the next phase of anticipating what outcomes and impacts occur based on changing events.

In the future, spatial systems that understand the operating context can be used to automate the redesign of a haul road (supporting when a mine expands) or minimise the downtime between shifts though directing workers to their equipment in the most efficient way.

Capturing data with a location attribute is now commonplace with many off the shelf systems having a GNSS receiver that pinpoints the location of an asset.  The next phase will be to capture the operating context and use this to improve our operations, and do this in small steps in different divisions that demonstrate how data and systems are purposed as a knowledge tool that provides the user insights supporting their activity and decision making, and not data just being a tool that you need to then interpret for your need. 

Finally, if you are planning to invest in your data and technologies, do so with the outcome in mind. Who is the user? What decisions do they need to make?; this will ensure your investment provides you the confidence that the right decisions are being made.

For information on our upcoming webinar series Power of Positioning in Resources click here.


[1] XYZ: Latitude, Longitude and Height

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #FutureMining, #Innovation

P1204 UAV project outcomes released

21 October, 2020 by zeme capa

Congratulations to the project team and sponsors on the successful completion of Amira Global Project P1204: Developing UAV Mounted Geophysical Sensor Arrays!

The 10-month project wrapped up recently, delivering outcomes on future potentials of UAV-borne geophysics to the 18 company sponsors. The public report from this research will be available to non-sponsors in coming months.

Amira Global Program Manager Technology and Innovation Dr Olga Verezub thanked the team, sponsors, and solution providers for their contributions.

The project was led by Dr Jan Francke from International Groundradar Consulting Inc, with research provided by Prof James Macnae (RMIT), Dr Brian Minty (Minty Geophysics), Dr David Clark (CSIRO), Prof Giles Hammond (The University of Glasgow), Dr Michael Hussey (Mineral Spectra Mapping), Prof Roberto Sabatini (RMIT), Mr Theo Aravanis (Arrow Geosciences), and Mr Tom Pils (The Drone Lawyer).

“Many thanks to the team of amazing researchers and sponsors who went on this journey with us and were passionate, courageous and visionary to explore the future of sensors and UAVs beyond tomorrow,” Dr Verezub said.

P1204 project sponsors were: BHP, Rio Tinto, Clean TeQ, Iluka, Freeport, MMG, Newmont, IGO, FQM, Newcrest, Spectrem Air on behalf of Anglo Group, Teck, Vale, Fortescue Metals Group, Transparent Earth Geophysics, New Resolution Geophysics, Boeing, and Consilium Technology.

P1204 overview

Over the past decade, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has evolved from military tools to hobbyist test beds to lucrative commercial enterprises for geospatial mapping. Today, the commercial UAV market is growing exponentially, with new types of crafts, power plants and sensors extending their applications daily.

Although the most common applications are associated with acquiring aerial images for mapping or inspection of dangerous sites, the miniaturisation of geophysical instruments has enabled some, including magnetics, VLF and GPR sensors to be mounted in UAVs.

UAVs offer significant advantages for geophysical surveying over traditional ground and manned aircraft surveys, including access to challenging environments, higher point density, potentially lower cost per data point, and the ability to collect data from multiple locations simultaneously with multiple sensors.

Amira’s P1204, Developing UAV-mounted Geophysical Sensor Arrays, as proposed by industry, gathered a panel of international experts in geophysical instrumentation, UAV design and laws related to their use as well as potential end users, to explore the state-of-the-art and future potentials of UAV-borne geophysics. Specifically considered were sensors related to radiometrics, hyperspectral imaging, gravimetry, magnetometry, electromagnetics and ground penetrating radar (GPR).

Collaborate to succeed: Dr Jacqui Coombes

Amira Global CEO Dr Jacqui Coombes said collaboration and combined efforts were key to the project’s success.

“Spanning the globe and the minerals ecosystem, 18 sponsor organisations, and eight solutions providers and researchers have come together to investigate, explore and contemplate the great challenges that surround UAV-mounted geophysical sensor arrays,” Dr Coombes said.

“The investigation was born by a concept shared by Theo Aravanis (Arrow Geosciences and formerly Chief Geophysicist for Rio Tinto). We are delighted that Theo shared his ideas and the challenges around the concepts with us.

“This study has gathered international experts in geophysical instrumentation design and miniaturisation, in addition to UAV professionals, to explore the present and future potential of UAV-borne geophysical surveying. Beyond the use of individual UAVs to carry single geophysical transmitters or sensors, the potential applications using fleets of drones was also considered.

“Amira Global is appreciative of the shared intellect, creativity and deep knowledge of the collaboration between all involved.”

#FutureResources; #Innovation; #Projects

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #FutureResources, #Innovation, #Projects

Celebrating success: Penny Stewart

16 September, 2020 by zeme capa

Many of today’s mining industry leaders have been involved with Amira projects. This week the spotlight is on Dr Penny Stewart, CEO and founder of mining AI software company Petra Data Science Pty Ltd.

Today, PETRA is recognised as a leading provider of machine learning and mine optimisation software. In 2016, her company, Petra, collaborated with Newcrest to develop and deploy some of the mining industry’s first machine learning algorithms.

In an interview with Amira Global this week, Penny spoke about her experience completing a PhD on an Amira project and its contribution to her founding PETRA.

Penny began her PhD studies at UQ’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre in 2000, working on mining dilution in narrow vein mines as part the deliverables for the Amira Blasting and Reinforcement Technology II project (P447A). Prior to her PhD, she worked as Mine Production and Planning Engineer at KCGM’s Super Pit in Kalgoorlie. Her experience working at mine sites around Australia resulted in a strong interest in how geological variability affects engineering design and decisions.

Amira Project P447A

The specific objectives of P447A were:

  • to appraise current practices in the areas of blasting, reinforcement and excavation design at the nominated sponsor mines
  • to enhance current design procedures in order to reduce damage, overbreak, dilution, ore loss and to optimise support and reinforcement
  • to optimise the selected design methods through observation and the recording of actual excavation, blasting and reinforcement performance.

The outcomes assisted design engineers to:

  • ensure that proper excavation design, blast design, support design and associated practices implemented suited the mining method and geological/geotechnical environment
  • ensure that the impact of stresses, blasting and blast damage were adequately taken into account during design
  • minimise the impact of blast damage on excavation, support and reinforcement performance
  • minimise damage and overbreak during development drivage and stoping.

Thesis: Minimising dilution in narrow vein mines

In response to project sponsor’s concern regarding the applicability of empirical stability charts to narrow-vein stope design and dilution prediction, Penny’s thesis focused on an improved ability to predict dilution in narrow-vein longhole stoping compared to conventional stoping.

The main finding of the thesis was that mines can develop stope design data models using their own stope performance data, as well as developing a new method to statistically validate site-specific data models including, how much, and what types of data are required. For Amira, the main deliverable was an improved ability to prevent dilution in narrow vein longhole stopes through improved stope and blast design tools. In 2002, Penny was awarded the Ian Morely Prize for best postgraduate in minerals engineering.

Penny worked full-time on her PhD for three years before completing the PhD part-time while working as a consultant specialising in the application of data analysis to improve stope and blasting decisions using each site’s own data. The advantage of completing the thesis on the Amira project was the opportunity for applied research, tackling real industry challenges.

“The greatest benefits were sponsor feedback and industry setting the parameters and outcomes. There was always a focus on applied research aimed at solving real problems in the industry,” Penny said.

The experience also gave her the confidence to think independently, finding new ways of approaching challenges.

“Amira research projects are world-class, involving some of the largest companies in the world. At the completion of my PhD I had a combination of technical expertise from JKMRC research training and industry knowledge gained from site visits to Kundana Gold Mines, Kanowna Belle Gold mine and Gold Field’s Junction mine. It gave me the confidence to challenge industry standard practice and create new methods for solving industry challenges.”

Access Penny’s Thesis here – Minimising dilution in narrow vein mines

Filed Under: News Tagged With: #AmiraAlumni, #Innovation

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