Automation and AI Technology in Surface Mining With a Brief Introduction to Open-Pit Operations in the Pilbara
For engineers and researchers unfamiliar with mining, this paper provides a broad overview of automation opportunities in the industry, but it is a survey without novel results.
This survey describes the engineering problems and automation trends in surface mining, focusing on the Pilbara iron-ore region, and outlines nine key steps from exploration to ore shipment. It aims to raise awareness of AI and automation in mining for an engineering audience.
This survey article provides a synopsis on some of the engineering problems, technological innovations, robotic development and automation efforts encountered in the mining industry -- particularly in the Pilbara iron-ore region of Western Australia. The goal is to paint the technology landscape and highlight issues relevant to an engineering audience to raise awareness of AI and automation trends in mining. It assumes the reader has no prior knowledge of mining and builds context gradually through focused discussion and short summaries of common open-pit mining operations. The principal activities that take place may be categorized in terms of resource development, mine-, rail- and port operations. From mineral exploration to ore shipment, there are roughly nine steps in between. These include: geological assessment, mine planning and development, production drilling and assaying, blasting and excavation, transportation of ore and waste, crush and screen, stockpile and load-out, rail network distribution, and ore-car dumping. The objective is to describe these processes and provide insights on some of the challenges/opportunities from the perspective of a decade-long industry-university R&D partnership.