Technology & Innovation
The mining industry makes modern moves
The Brazilian mining ecosystem is home to several technology development companies that are ready to help miners to take advantage of the country's impressive mineral wealth. CEMI, for example, is a Brazilian company that develops technologies to optimize industrial processes and uses different types of hardware, such as cameras and sensors, to collect data that is analyzed in real-time using mathematical models. These technologies help companies make better decisions based on the possible outcomes of different scenarios.
In the past year, CEMI has introduced new systems for a variety of applications throughout the mining cycle, including the tailings area. Marco Aurelio Soares, COO, highlighted the PC Model Base, an integration of multiple dynamic models and the SIM software: “It is a simulator that brings together numerous dynamic models, allowing us to simulate in real-time, slow motion, or 'accelerated' while the plant is in operation.”
Following the Mariana and Brumadinho disasters, mining companies have increasingly demanded geotechnical monitoring technologies. GroundProbe, an Australian technology company owned by Orica, develops geotechnical movement monitoring solutions for mining structures and has gained significant traction in the Brazilian mining industry. “Our predictive technologies and software solutions allow our customers to monitor and detect wall movement, understand when it becomes a problem, and determine when a collapse is likely,” said Antonio Rocha, head of group business development. “Our reactive technologies detect, track and alarm on moving geohazards in real-time, giving our customers and communities warning of a breach or collapse.”
"The detection of problems outside the visible spectrum is an area for future development: For example, solutions for coal mines where there is a high risk of explosions from methane and coal dust."
Ronny Madeira, Former Mining Engineer and Account Executive, Altave Intelligent Monitoring
This recognition of the need for monitoring has led mining companies and associations to develop initiatives to meet that need. ALTAVE Intelligent Monitoring recently partnered with Mining Hub, an initiative supported by IBRAM. The company offers its customers solutions oriented around safety that include hardware, such as cameras, radars and aerial sensors, as well as software to process and analyze the data. “If an employee is not wearing protective clothing or an accident occurs during operations, our solutions alert the operations manager,” explained Ronny Madeira, former mining engineer and account executive of ALTAVE.
The use of digital tools, machine learning, and real-time data collection and analysis provide notable benefits in terms of safety, sustainability, productivity, energy efficiency and cost savings. However, the effectiveness of these systems depends on connectivity and energy infrastructure. In light of this, telecommunications companies are becoming increasingly important in the mining industry. As technology advances, the need for reliable communications networks has become critical.
"After the Mariana Dam disaster, we saw a significant demand for remote operating technologies due to an increased awareness of safety."
Ewerton Libanio, Managing Director, Satcom Direct Brazil
Technology, such as automation and remote-control systems, helps to use human capital more efficiently by reallocating people from dangerous physical tasks to more specialized activities. This is particularly important for the mining industry as it is becoming increasingly difficult to attract young talent. Traditionally considered to be physically demanding and dangerous, work conditions for miners are changing and a new type of workforce will emerge.
Image courtesy of Hexagon