How I View Mine Digitization: Transforming Mining Operations with Automation

Welcome to the first post in the series, "How I View Mine Digitization." In this series, I'll share my thoughts on how digital technologies make mining more efficient, safe, and productive.

I have worked in the mining industry for over three years, starting as a graduate engineer trainee and moving up to roles like shift in charge, assistant manager, and mine manager. My hands-on experience in mines has given me a clear understanding of our daily challenges. Now, at GroundHog , I'm helping to bring digital technologies into mining operations, and I see the remarkable improvements they bring.

Mining involves many complex tasks, such as managing resources and equipment. This includes using mining trucks, excavators, drills, conveyor belts, and logistics. To ensure these tasks run smoothly and projects get done faster, we need to simplify and automate them.

At GroundHog , we're leading this digital transformation. Here's how we're making a difference, with some specific examples:

Automating Operations for Better Efficiency

1. Better Resource Allocation:

I know how much effort goes into managing resources from my time in the field. In underground mines, it takes a lot of coordination and data gathering—checking equipment and personnel availability and work status. Would you have imagined a day where you just come in, review the plan, and get to do more critical work? Automatic shift allocation with a system like GroundHog SIC is now a reality. This system digitally tracks all necessary information and creates an automatic shift plan. The shift manager can quickly review this plan, saving hours and reducing mistakes. I remember how much time and effort it took to do this manually. Moving to an automated system saves time and increases accuracy and efficiency.

2. Precision Drilling:

Drilling is one of the most important parts of mining, and precision is crucial. Traditional methods often involve guesswork, leading to inaccuracies that waste time and resources. As an Assistant Manager, ensuring drilling accuracy was always a challenge. GroundHog's precision drilling automation reduces these errors. A system like GroundHog uses advanced technology and real-time data to ensure every drill hits the right spot. This improves the efficiency of the operation and ensures we get the best output from each drill. The result is a more reliable and consistent production process, boosting overall mining efficiency.

3. Precision Digging:

Digging operations, like drilling, require high precision to avoid over-excavation and under-excavation, both of which can lead to wasted resources and time. As a Shift in Charge, I often faced challenges with ensuring the digging operations were precise and accurate.?

I'm sure all mining engineers have faced this situation: waste material got mixed with ore, and you had to re-handle the material or compromise on the quality.

Precision digging techniques that use real-time data and advanced sensors to guide excavation equipment can significantly minimize this challenge. This technology ensures that digging is done accurately according to plan, reducing waste and improving the overall efficiency of the mining process. It minimizes errors and ensures that the excavation process is streamlined and productive.

4. Better Equipment Management:

Managing equipment like mining trucks, excavators, and drills is a big task. It involves a lot of maintenance, tracking, and scheduling. With proper management, equipment can avoid delays. For example, as a Shift in Charge, unexpected equipment failures could stop operations, causing costly delays.?

What if there was a tool that proactively managed all the equipment's needs and maintenance schedules and minimized downtime?

There are many tools on the market today that help with this. I personally am part of such a solution built in GroundHog. This solution also tracks backlogs and does the last-mile integration with the field, which many of the world's ERPs and SAPs need to do.?

5. Efficient Logistics and Automated Haulage Tracking:

Efficient transportation and logistics are vital for mining operations. Every minute counts when moving materials and equipment. For instance, as a Mine Manager, ensuring timely and safe transport of materials was crucial.?

As part of the customer success team at GroundHog, I see processes with real-time tracking and automated scheduling significantly improving haulage statistics.?

Our system monitors the status and location of each truck in real-time, ensuring materials are moved safely and efficiently. The Automated haulage tracker keeps track of the status of dump trucks in real time. This system monitors each truck's status, such as traveling, waiting to load, loading, hauling, waiting to dump, and dumping. The application automatically tracks and updates all these statuses using GPS, telematics, and sensors. This reduces delays and ensures that resources are in the right place at the right time, leading to better coordination and efficiency.

Embracing Digital Transformation

By integrating these advanced technologies, mining companies achieve greater efficiency, lower costs, and complete projects quickly. This is just the start of how digitization can transform the mining industry.

Stay tuned for my next post, where we'll dive deeper into the specifics of precision drilling automation and its impact on mining operations.

Join me on this journey as I view the future of mining as a mining engineer and a member of GroundHog's customer success team.?

If you are curious about what GroundHog does - check out the website here: GroundHogApps.com