AI Applications in Mining

Introduction

Morning, Good Afternoon, wherever you're joining us from, and whichever part of the world. Thank you for being with us.

Housekeeping Requests

We are anticipating a larger attendance today, so if you can, please keep your audio and video muted to reduce the bandwidth for everyone. It would be really helpful. We also have a request from the speaker, as he has to leave sharply at 5 p.m. modern time because of a consequent appointment. In consciousness of that, we will try to address as many questions as possible but might not be able to cover all.

Announcement from Dr. Nelson

Tailings Center

Dr. Nelson spoke about the Tailings Center, which was formed in the middle of last year, right in the middle of COVID. It's a collaboration between three universities focusing on tailings management in the mining industry. Their activities include:

• Education about best practices
• Recruiting students into careers in mine waste management
• Conducting professional development short courses and certificates
• Developing MS and PhD programs focused on tailings management, targeted to start in Fall 2022
• Industry-guided research focusing on strategic needs

Their professional development short course series starts on March 22nd. You can find more information and register on their website.

Talk by Dr. Ali Sufastay

Dr. Ali Sufastay is an AI project leader at Vale, a global leader in mining. He is involved in numerous projects focusing on AI and advanced analytics in the mining industry. He completed his PhD from the University of Queensland and is currently leading AI initiatives at Vale’s AI Centre.

AI Centre at Vale

The AI Centre focuses on advancing R&D applications of AI across Vale’s operations, including mining, processing, maintenance, transportation, and shipping. It acts as a focal point where people, technology, and ideas come together. They have multiple research collaborations with universities and institutions worldwide, focusing on developing AI solutions for operational challenges.

AI Energy Efficiency in Surface Mines

One of the projects developed by Dr. Sufastay is an AI application for increasing energy efficiency in surface mines by focusing on haul truck fuel consumption. This project involved several steps:

1. Literature Review: Focusing on published papers and business reports regarding energy efficiency in surface mines.
2. Survey: Conducting surveys in five universities in Australia to identify key effective parameters on haul truck fuel consumption.
3. Prediction Model: Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict fuel consumption and gas emissions based on select parameters.
4. Optimization: Incorporating Genetic Algorithm (GA) to optimize key parameters for minimizing fuel consumption.
5. Integrated Model: Developing a combined model for predicting and optimizing haul truck operations to reduce fuel consumption, improve productivity, and reduce maintenance costs.

AI Maturity Framework

To effectively implement AI in mining, Dr. Sufastay presented an AI maturity framework for evaluating an organization’s readiness. This framework helps in:

1. Assessing Maturity: Evaluating current maturity levels in data, people, systems, and processes.
2. Identifying Gaps: Highlighting gaps between current and desired maturity levels.
3. Planning: Developing a step-by-step plan for achieving the desired maturity level.

Practical AI Applications and Challenges

Dr. Sufastay shared various practical examples of AI implementation in mining. He emphasized the importance of integrating systems to cover all aspects of mining operations—from drilling and blasting to hauling and processing.

Final Remarks and Q&A

Dr. Sufastay concluded his presentation by introducing a platform for sharing ideas and experiences in advanced analytics and digital transformation in mining. This platform aims to create a community of researchers and provide opportunities for collaboration.

Keywords

• AI in Mining
• Advanced Analytics
• Haul Truck Fuel Consumption
• AI Maturity Framework
• Energy Efficiency
• Predictive Modeling
• Optimization
• Vale AI Centre

FAQ

Q: What is the main focus of Dr. Sufastay's AI projects in mining? A: The main focus is on optimizing processes, enhancing decision-making, receiving value from data, and improving safety in mining operations through advanced analytics and AI applications.

Q: How does the AI maturity framework help in implementing AI in mining? A: The AI maturity framework helps assess the current readiness level of an organization in data, people, systems, and processes. It highlights gaps between current and desired maturity levels and assists in planning for achieving the desired maturity.

Q: Can the AI applications developed by Dr. Sufastay be used in any mining operation? A: Yes, the AI applications are designed to be generalizable and scalable for different mining operations. However, they may require some adjustments to suit specific site conditions.

Q: What improvements were observed using the AI application for haul truck fuel consumption? A: Using the AI application, significant improvements were observed. Fuel consumption was reduced by up to 8.3%, and productivity was increased by up to 5%.

Q: What kind of support does Vale's AI Centre provide for AI projects? A: Vale’s AI Centre provides technical infrastructure support, resources, and expertise in AI and advanced analytics. They also offer necessary training sessions to develop advanced analytics knowledge across the organization.