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Article in Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy July 2017
DOI: 10.17159/2411-9717/2017/v117n7a5
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operation. The physical technology enablers may include the geology and geotechnical planning. Figure 4 is a more
sensors for internet of things applications to extract the data, detailed example from the operations phase under the
tracking technologies to monitor asset location and productivity pillar, with a specific focus on underground
utilization, and robotics and ICT applications in rockbreaking development as the main value driver. For this example, the
or drill-and-blast-based mechanized equipment to enable chosen supporting value driver is mineral/ore and waste
remote operation. extraction, which in turn branches out to drill-and-blast and
mechanized, autonomous mining.
, &#%$'#'&"$!!'# Under each of these value drivers and/or constituent
To illustrate how the technology map was designed from the value drivers, the investigated technologies with potential to
platform of the mining cycle and its constituent value drivers, add value are shown in square brackets. These technologies,
consider the following examples of different sections taken along with selected others from the technology map, will be
from the technology map. Figure 3 displays a basic example discussed in relation to their potential areas of application
from the operations phase under the mineral resource within the mining cycle to provide context on how the
management pillar for the two chosen main value drivers: technology map was designed.
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As regards mining, global supply and demand factors
lack the transparency that companies often require in order to
Data is a foundational component of digital transformation. make decisions before disaster ensues in their operations.
To realize the full potential that can be extracted from data, Companies now need more flexibility than ever before, and
some businesses are treating data analysis as a strategic should aim to hone their ability to scale production, labour,
discipline and are investing in industrial-grade analytics (or and other inputs and outputs up or down in response to
advanced analytics). Advances in distributed data shifting economic trends. Predictive analytics can help
architecture, in-memory processing, machine learning, organizations in this regard by identifying events that may
visualization, natural language processing, and cognitive shift commodity market fundamentals (Deloitte, 2016c).
analytics have unleashed powerful tools that can answer Smart planning and coordination of activities are required to
questions and identify valuable patterns and insights. To mitigate variability caused by external forces. Disciplined
create value from big data through advanced analytics entails execution is needed to eliminate variability in operations. A
a process of information acquisition and curation, step change in mining productivity will ensue through
information delivery, turning information to insights, and reducing and, where possible, eliminating the variability that
insights to actions (Dupress, 2016a). has made mining unique (McKinsey, 2015a).
Analytics will become deeply, but invisibly, embedded Mining companies continue to refine their safety
everywhere. Organizations will face increased difficulty in programmes, but the statistics still remain unsatisfactory
managing the huge amounts of data (often termed big data) worldwide. Companies often turn to data analytics to pinpoint
from the internet of things, social media, wearable devices, the industry risks, organizational behaviours, and internal
cultures that are most likely to result in serious safety issues.
sensors, and other sources. Applying advanced analytics to
As this technology becomes more intuitive and less costly, it
an understanding of context could provide the preconditions
is enabling companies to implement safety programmes
for a world of smart machines. This foundation combines
focused on zero fatalities (rather than zero harm). Companies
with advanced algorithms that allow systems to understand
are able to better correlate the safety data they collect with
their environment, learn for themselves, and act other available data-sets (e.g. production data, employee
autonomously (which further assists technologies such as rosters, maintenance schedules, weather forecasts, vehicle
artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning). telemetry etc.). By correlating this data, companies can
Prototype autonomous vehicles, advanced robots, virtual recognize safety incident patterns and employees that are
personal assistants, and smart advisors already exist and are particularly at risk. They are then in the position to adopt
evolving rapidly. This will ultimately usher in a new age of processes and procedures to minimize incidents and injuries
machine helpers, leading to a smart machine era that is likely (Deloitte, 2016c).
to be the most disruptive in the history of information According to Deloitte (2014b), the use of analytics
technology (Gartner, 2014). enables companies to:
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making tool to provide guidance in identifying applicable companies will face this year.
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https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/fpc/Documents/secteurs/
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would further assist with the refinement process when using
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number of technologies, and potentially their desired designs
and method of application, to a level applicable to the needs DELOITTE. 2015b. Tracking the trends 2015: The top 10 issues mining
of the user. This decision-making tool could then be companies will face this year.
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