3D-Dig: Unearthing the Future of Open-Cut Mining with Earth Technology's Revolutionary Software

3D-Dig: Unearthing the Future of Open-Cut Mining with Earth Technology's Revolutionary Software by Alexandra Turgeon Anderson

Earth Technology , led by Managing Director Alex Kavetsky , PhD, has revolutionized the field of open-cut mining with its groundbreaking creation, 3D-Dig. Designed to address the need for improved planning in open-cut mining operations, 3D-Dig offers a unique way to simulate material movement and the action of mining machinery during the mining process.

During the late 1980s and early 1990s, Australian open-cut coal mines faced a crisis. Draglines were commonly used to remove overburden from coal seams, but as time went on, the overburden became significantly thicker. This necessitated multiple dragline passes and the use of other mining equipment to remove the initial layers of overburden, leading to increased complexity in mine planning. The existing approximate and two-dimensional methods of dragline mine planning were no longer sufficient. It was clear that a more accurate and three-dimensional approach was needed. This is where 3D-Dig stepped in to fill the gap.

One of the key accomplishments that Alex Kavetsky is proud of is his role in realizing the potential of the Earth Technology development team. By harnessing their talents and skills, the team successfully created four generations of simulation algorithms and 3D-Dig simulation software.

The generations of 3D-Dig ranged from early beginnings with Fortran code running under the old DOS operating system, to the current versions fully rewritten in object-oriented C++ and running under the latest Windows systems. Graphics power has also undergone major step-changes, now using the full power of system graphics processors through the latest OpenGL graphics language. In addition to the 3D-Dig Excavation Editor and Mining Simulator, the team has developed four generations of the QED Blast Design Editor and Blasting Simulator for Austin Powder Company. This blast simulation software is built using the 3D-Dig simulation platform.

Looking ahead, Alex envisions a future where the benefits of 3D-Dig reach the wider mining community. He aims to continue improving and expanding the simulation software, with a particular focus on enhancing and automating the user interface. Additionally, he plans to integrate 3D-Dig with other mine planning software, enabling automated simulation of mining schedules. This integration will allow execution-level simulation to be seamlessly incorporated into the mine planning process.

Earth Technology also aims to further develop its Environmental Reshaping, Transport Analysis, and Ponding software modules. These advancements will greatly assist mines in improving their mine rehabilitation efforts and mitigate long-term environmental impacts of mining.

Recognizing the significance of training for successful software utilization, Earth Technology has always prioritized comprehensive documentation and training materials. In recent years, they have dedicated substantial efforts to developing new online training courses for 3D-Dig. The initial batches of these courses have been released, and the team is actively working on completing online training for all the modules of the software.

With their unwavering commitment to innovation, continuous improvement, and industry collaboration, Earth Technology, under the leadership of Alex Kavetsky, PhD, is poised to shape the future of open-cut mining through their pioneering software, 3D-Dig.