Technology | Mincka Australia

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3D Laser Scanning for God-Like Precision

3D laser scanning has transformed the way that spatial data is collected, revealing every incline, measurement, and texture of a target environment. It has given mining engineers god-like precision in their measurements and provided near-complete information where it is needed most. Despite this breakthrough, 3D laser scanning technology still relies on human inputs, and the results will rise or fall to the level of an operator’s skill. How does 3D laser scanning work? With the right operator at the helm of your 3D laser scanning, decision-making becomes a lot easier, as the new accurate and useful data can quickly offer innovative solutions to complex questions. Desktop software is then used to generate point-cloud data to create a 3D model of the facility, area, or asset. It is a digital replica that can be explored, manipulated, and experimented on with zero real-world risk, and at record speed. How can 3D laser scanning benefit your business? With this kind of power at your fingertips, business gets a lot easier. Here are just a few of the benefits that can be realised: True visibility of your assets and environments. This means fewer change orders, reduced manhours, fewer site visits, and improved safety. Dramatic increases in design and fabrication quality. With detailed dimensional information now available there is less need for custom fixtures and fittings. Higher levels of confidence – Project management gets easier when the work, costs and scheduling is more predictable. These accurate inputs also translate to more efficient scheduling. Indeed, asset health can be known well in advance of necessary repairs and maintenance. Streamlined pricing models – Again, predictability improves operations and costs across the board. When you know exactly what you need, in advance of when you’ll need it, you can secure preferential costs, and refine supply-chain integration. The mining industry continues on the path to what many are calling Mining 4.0 – simply put, the rapid advancement of technology reshaping the practice and process of mining. Therefore, you can expect to see 3D laser scanning capabilities evolve far beyond what is possible today. Already, digital twin technology, augmented reality, and virtual reality are exponentially increasing productivity and evolving assigned job roles. Mincka’s expert engineers regularly use 3D laser scanning in the field for our clients. As perfectionists, nothing less than total visibility and precision will satisfy. Our clients love the results and dramatic increases in productivity, too!

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5 mining innovations about to drop

Innovation has revolutionised mining in recent years, from digital twin technology to 5G, satellites, and beyond. We’ve made some huge strides in creating safer and more efficient mining operations, yet many challenges still remain. As your trusted engineering consultancy, Mincka is here to shed some light on the changes ahead. Here’s a look at some of the areas in mining on the cusp of revolution. Communicating deep into the Earth Technological advances have allowed miners to dig deeper into the Earth than ever before, with mines now stretching kilometres into the ground. Two-way communications remains a challenge in these setting, with signal interruptions and legacy technology still in use on my many sites. As 5G (link to Mincka blog on 5g) technology continues to roll out globally, communications deep underground will become crystal clear and seamless, aided by direct signals relayed via mesh networks. Reduced mine site footprints Automation made possible by new sensor technologies will see many sites operating entirely on small teams and skeleton crews. Self-driving trucks and machinery will operate autonomously, with limited human oversight managed from a central control room far away from the actual mine site. These innovations will streamline the process to algorithmic precision, reducing the environmental footprints of mine sites. Managing Water The supply and use of water is already a major issue in mining, and as environmental regulations continue to tighten it’s set to become an even bigger concern for the industry’s bottom line. Reducing overall water usage on a site through recycling and novel approaches to management will provide significant advantages over the coming years. Safeguarding against water table contamination will also become a top priority as new blasting technologies come online, reducing these risks. Mental Health and Remote Work The pandemic and associated lockdowns put a spotlight on mental health issues worldwide. It’s long been understood that mining work can take its toll on mental health, especially for fly-in, fly-out (FIFO) workers. The need to fly thousands of kilometres to and from work will soon seem old-fashioned, as virtual reality capabilities and remote dashboards will allow miners to remotely interface with machinery on-site. Political Pressure and Social Licence There are significant structural changes taking place within the mining industry. As Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scores and targets are rolled out globally and the transition to renewable energy is increasingly seen as a social license to operate, mining businesses are under increasing pressure to retrofit and purchase new assets and reform their processes to meet new industry standards. We are actively working at the forefront of these changes for the advancement of our customers. Getting in front of your mining needs is our job, Mincka is your trusted innovation partner, and our global team of experts works across disciplines to provide fast and innovative solutions.

5G Technology: Notes on the Revolution Ahead | Mincka

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5G Technology: Notes on the Revolution Ahead

5G technology promises to reshape mining by streamlining connectivity and data capture in ways never before dreamed possible. It’s a brave new world, and innovating from the front lines is what we at Mincka do best. From persistent communications to virtual reality, here’s how 5G can reshape the future of your business. Accelerating Innovation in Mining with 5G The last 12 months saw an acceleration in 5G pilot programs and testing across a range of industries around the world, as companies grappled with COVID-19 travel restrictions and the logistics issues that soon followed. A 2020 study from Nokia and tech consultancy Omdia, found that 5G technology has the potential to generate up to US$9 billion in productivity improvements in Latin America alone by 2035. In a recent interview, with Mining Magazine, the head of Nokia’s mining business, Jaime Laguna, shared his thoughts on where these savings might come from in Mining, “reliable communications are a key requirement to provide safety in mining environments where people and machines are working together. If the network fails, operations may be interrupted or halted.” This is where 5G’s persistent network provides a new degree of certainty and functionality in mining. Data can be continuously captured and shared, with accurate real-time asset health information available around the clock. It’s clear that 5G technology will transform how we approach and manage safety on-site, too. “5G is all about providing situational awareness, which is a factor that can enhance the current Collision Avoidance Systems by providing location awareness of machines and people and connecting the overall data needed for dangers and alarms,” Jaime adds. Beyond AR Another area of mining ripe for the 5G revolution is the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) to remove humans from potentially dangerous underground environments. Instead of delving deep into the mines, workers can now rely on fast and accurate 5G-enabled data to remotely remedy situations and perform maintenance tasks. AR glasses and headsets can display real-time asset data, giving miners enhanced visibility in confined and difficult-to-reach spaces. Linking these systems to complex, 3D digital twins of underground mines is the next logical step. “Underground mining could be the perfect work environment for AR or VR, as it is one of those truly 3D work environments,” says Sean Keenan, Global Natural Resources Research Lead at Accenture. “The miners are looking at the orebody from the inside, not just a 2D plan at the surface”. Getting the balance between virtual worlds, augmented worlds, and the real world, will be a tricky process. It’s not yet clear how these technologies will standardise across the mining industry, but what is clear, however, is that this revolution is already well underway. According to the IDC 2021 Worldwide Mining Decision-Maker Survey, 86% of mining companies plan to invest in wireless infrastructure in the next 18 months, with 5G coming in as their top priority. Conclusion At Mincka, disruptive innovation in mining engineering is at the core of all we do. Naturally, Mincka is closely tracking and working to implement cutting-edge 5G technology-enabled solutions.

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Drones In Mining: Innovation Takes Flight

Commercial drones have revolutionised the way that many industries now operate by making once dangerous or labour intensive work much safer, more efficient and better informed through dramatically improved data collection. Mincka, and our team of asset integrity consultants, have been using drones in our engineering consulting work for several years, and our clients have enjoyed having this advanced technology at their disposal. Although many advanced industries stand to benefit from the use of drone technology, perhaps the mining industry stands to gain the most. Commercial drones provide several key advantages that many in the industry could scarcely have imagined just a few short years ago. Australia was one of the first countries to regulate commercial drone use in 2002, before the market or the technology had matured. By 2012 the drone industry really began to take flight globally and is anticipated to become a US$41.3 billion market by 2026. Mincka has employed drones to overcome the challenges related to working at height requirements, in particular for visual inspection, which eliminates this risk and eliminates the need for the use of equipment like an elevating work platform (EWP), man cage, or scaffolding. Because mining is an industry that places such a high value on keeping staff out of harm’s way, this represents a huge leap forward for safety standards. It also keeps project costs down and reduces time to completion, which means more uptime and consistency. Drones can also be used to survey large areas onsite, maintaining records of where materials are located and remotely logging project updates. More recently, drone technology is being used to assist with planning work with aerial 3D mapping and capture of topographic data. This makes it easier and more cost effective to identify potential drilling sites and areas that can be used for equipment storage. As drone technology continues to evolve, we anticipate seeing a wider range of sensor equipment incorporated at the hardware level, and the continued evolution of artificial intelligence capabilities at the software level. Together, these developments will revolutionise many of the existing processes and projects within mining and other advanced industries. And, as one of the most innovative and disruptive new technologies at our disposal, we at Mincka have our finger on the pulse of drone technology. Afterall, disruptive innovation is what we do! Drones offer the potential for companies to reimagine the way they operate, reduce costs, and keep their staff safer. Not to mention, providing a massive reduction in project costs and time to completion. If these are priorities for your business, get in touch with Mincka today to find out how we can provide you with innovation for the long term. Use the contact form below and one of our team member will be in touch within 24-48 hours.

Innovation in Action

Tag: Technology

3D Laser Scanning for God-Like Precision

5 mining innovations about to drop

5G Technology: Notes on the Revolution Ahead

Drones In Mining: Innovation Takes Flight