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Solving explosive management and compliance issues in mining and regulated industries
Mar 12, 2024
Solving explosive management and compliance issues in mining and regulated industries
The industry is a bustling sector of ideas, products, services that are intended to help make the most of the mining value chain. It's often tempting for organisations that sell into this sector to focus on the allure of features. Anything from the sleek intrinsically safe tablet to the functionalities of a software program that manages resource specific requirements. Features are flaunted as badges of innovation and superiority – yet in this there lies a profound oversight: the neglect of the fundamental question – what problems do these features solve?
Our Chief Operating Officer – Ian Jansen
encouraged our team to think about the problems we solve for our customers and to retain the essence of why people seek out our Magman products in the first place. Word of mouth has been a wonderful tool that has allowed us to acquire over 70 mine sites globally but is only one thread of challenges, desires, and aspirations of our customers.
In highly regulated industries every organisation grapples with a mix of compliance, operational and unique site-specific problems. It is within the context of these challenges that Magman (acquired by Digital Terrain in 2023) is applying the lens of true value and embarking on our next round of problems to solve.
This led us to summarise what problems we solve today, and what we do today – a digital no-nonsense product, built by miners, for miners to help with the management of a magazine for explosives. Making sure that compliance is met, while being easy to use; and we’ve been doing it for over 10 years, so we know a thing or two about what works and what doesn't.
Make it easy: We make it easy to replace paper record keeping in a magazine with legislatively compliant, certified, intrinsically safe tablets and specialist software. Easier said than done because we’ve seen many complex problems to the simple problem of replacing paper records.
Reduce Errors: We reduce the number of errors, with no need to transcribe into error prone spreadsheets with formulas. It’s all done for you. Automatic notification and escalation of errors. The cost of shutting down the operation to resolve an error is enormous. Correcting typos on the go is handy and helps this too.
Improve Accuracy: Large, simplified buttons backed by best practice user processes helps with the repetitive nature of data capture for explosives movement
Efficient blast designs or stope firings: Prevents busy operators from needing to fill out entire takes. This improves speed and efficiency akin to a recipe process.
Elevating governance and risk management: Unmissable notifications that highlighting on stock discrepancies keeps the magazine in check. Peace of mind with notifications that enable 24/7/365 compliance and governance needs with change logs and transaction history for investigation audit trails.
Ease of Reporting: Integrated reporting or export of data to excel, with dashboarding and API options.
Chris Allen – General Manager Regulated Materials (Magman)
- MBA & Mining Engineer
- Passionate about practical solutions through digital innovations
Why Magman
- Specialists in digitising paper for explosive magazines for over 10 years
- Over 70 sites in all states in Australia, across North America, Asia and New Zealand
- Affordable, cost-effective solution to a high-consequence problem
- Sovereign Australian technology
Industries
- Mining/Resources - underground and open-cut
- Transport/Infrastructure development
- Defence
- Law Enforcement
- Government Agencies/ Regulatory Authorities
An accurate Digital model for the main decline of an underground mining operation is important and offers valuable benefits for mining companies and operators. From optimising resource extraction to enhancing safety protocols, the meticulous mapping of main declines serves as a cornerstone for efficient and sustainable mining practices. Let's explore some of the key advantages and benefits: 1. Enhanced Safety Protocols: Accurate mapping of the main decline enables mining companies to identify potential safety hazards such as unstable ground conditions, geological faults, or reinforcement movements. By proactively addressing these risks, mining operators can implement robust safety protocols, reducing the likelihood of accidents or incidents and ensuring the well-being of personnel working in the area. 2. Improved Resource Optimization: Mapping the main decline provides valuable insights into the geological characteristics and mineralization patterns of the surrounding ore body. This information allows mining engineers to optimise resource extraction strategies, including the design of mining methods, stope layouts, and ore handling systems. By maximising resource recovery while minimising waste, mining companies can enhance operational efficiency and profitability. 3. Enhanced Operational Planning: Accurate mapping of the main decline facilitates comprehensive operational planning, including scheduling of drilling, blasting, and extraction activities. By visualising the spatial layout of the decline and associated infrastructure, mining operators can optimise workflows, streamline logistics, and minimise downtime, leading to improved productivity and cost-effectiveness. 4. Facilitates Infrastructure Development: Detailed mapping of the main decline provides essential data for the design and construction of infrastructure such as ventilation systems, service lines into the operation, and support structures. By accurately assessing the spatial constraints and geological conditions of the decline, mining engineers can optimise the layout and configuration of infrastructure elements, ensuring efficient operation and maintenance throughout the mine's lifespan. 5. Supports Regulatory Compliance: Mining companies are subject to stringent regulatory requirements governing safety, environmental protection, and resource management. Accurate mapping of the main decline helps ensure compliance with these regulations by providing comprehensive documentation of underground workings, geological features, and safety measures undertaken. This enables mining operators to demonstrate due diligence and accountability to regulatory authorities and stakeholders. Mapping the main decline of a mining operation is a strategic imperative that yields a multitude of benefits that Digital Terrain know and understand. By leveraging the insights gained from a digital twin generated through our Lidar services that seamlessly rolls into Maptek, Deswik and other mining software, mining managers and operators can navigate the path to success with confidence and foresight. Digital Terrain Digital Terrain have solutions that replace or augment existing capabilities for capturing, processing, analysis and reporting. We also offer onsite instruction and training where customers seek to build their own expertise. > Enjoy the sample video of our capabilities and contact David Juany for any comments, questions, or service information. david.Jaunay@digitalterrain.io or +61434317580 #lidar #autonomousdrones #slam #hovermap #scanning #underground #stope
Underground mining is a harsh environment to operate in, where the next decision can be the difference between continued progress or productivity halting delays. Often it is the ‘gut-feel’ or ‘intuition’ that results in pulling Lever A as opposed to Lever B, but when it is estimated that the average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day (Sollisch 2016), it is clear that not all of these can possibly be the optimal solution all of the time. Traditionally, data collection has been a lagged, cumbersome process, fraught with inaccuracies (poor radio communications, misplaced/damaged/destroyed paperwork), double handling (horizontally integrated systems) and delays (data entry occurs progressively by site administration on the following shift for the one preceding it). However, with the advent of digitization, this narrative is rapidly changing. Real-time data collection and analysis empower stakeholders to access accurate and timely information, enabling them to make informed de cisions on the fly. Coupled with Digital Terrain’s RDI-WRS Wireless Repeater System ( https://www.digitalterrain.io/revolutionising-underground-mining-with-wi-fi-mesh-technology ), Simbio PLOD can present decision makers within your business the information they need to execute your plans and achieve your goals. Digital Terrain‘s Simbio Core Suite (SCS) puts frontline personnel at the heart of their solution. Operators are empowered to capture their own data, in real-time, through the use of the Simbio PLOD app (available on Android and iOS). Each operator logs the progress of their shift as they complete their assigned tasks (using Simbio’s PLAN module) including Task Workplace Inspections (Take 5’s, Stop and Thinks, Safe Stops etc), Prestarts, Hazard Forms, Productive Time, Downtime, Maintenance Faults, Trigger Action Response Plan (TARP) workflow escalations and more. The Digital Terrain team is committed to ensure that your operation can hit the ground running from Day 1.