Modern Mining October 2020

EXPERT VIEW

As self-driving vehicles continue to mature, and the Internet of Things (IoT) and wireless connectivity become more widespread, the mining industry has shown a growing interest in automating parts of its mining fleet and processes. By Eric Croeser , Industry X MD for Accenture in Africa. Mining industry shows a growing interest in automation

connectivity. But the key to taking auton- omy to the next level will be the increasing use of intelligence in systems, in the form of artificial intelligence (AI); machine learning; robotic process automation; descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive ana- lytics; and scenario modelling. These technologies allow systems to understand the data flowing through operations, enable situational aware- ness, develop near-real-time insights into operations and determine what options to consider. They can be used to support human operators, managers, leadership and, ultimately, guide automated deci- sion-making and responses to changing condition – a capability at the heart of truly autonomous operations. As companies explore increased auton- omy, there are several factors to keep in mind – factors that will be instrumental to success. Companies need to: Focus on Value: The autonomous path to value will be as different as each business. Having clear visibility of the key value driv- ers is critical to avoiding false starts and matching stakeholder expectations. Address the foundation: To take advan- tage of intelligent technologies, companies should ensure their IT architectures are ready to support communications between various systems and types of equipment. They should also assess the interoperabil- ity of systems, which is key to integrating operations across the mine and the value chain. A lack of standardised technology and tools in the industry can make this a challenge, which means companies will have to work closely with ecosystem part- ners and OEMs to weave systems together. Finally, companies need to assess cyber security requirements, because a breach of autonomous systems could mean losing control of systems and processes. Ensure data readiness: Being able to use data from various sources is critical to AI and analytics-based insights and decision- making. Companies need to consider their data-handling capabilities to capture and manage ever-growing volumes of data, while ensuring the data used to drive decision-making is accurate and trusted.

Data will need to be clean, consistent and refined into datasets that can be analysed readily. And data flow will need to change, from being linear and controlled by vari- ous disciplines and segments of the value chain, to a multidirectional flow across dis- ciplines. Overall, ensuring data readiness is a key prerequisite – without it, autonomous capabilities will be limited, at best. Manage the change: As a rule, technol- ogy changes faster than people, and the shift to autonomy could leave employees behind if not carefully managed. Mining companies can help their people feel more comfortable with new approaches by communicating clearly, building trust and preparing them to succeed in the new envi- ronment. Companies can also apply these concepts to local communities, to manage fears about the potential impact of auto­ nomous operations on employment and safety – and to help maintain the license to operate granted by the community. Evolving toward autonomy The move to autonomy will require sig- nificant change. Miners should prepare a vision and roadmap for implementing autonomous operations. This is not to say the change needs to be done all at once, or that all operations need to become autono- mous. Instead, miners can move forward in gradual, targeted steps. 

T oday, a number of companies have fleets of autonomous trucks, drills, trains and loaders at mine sites, or are piloting the use of these vehicles. There is also a growing need to automate parts of the decision making process across the mining value chain, ensuring decisions are being made “in-time” – leading to vast improvements in efficiencies and cost. These efforts are a great leap forward from traditional practices, but they are just scratching the surface of how autono- mous systems can be used in mining. With constantly advancing technology – and especially the increase in the intelligence of systems – autonomous operations have the potential to significantly increase effi- ciency and productivity. More importantly, they will provide miners with an opportunity to meet growing demands for environmen- tal and social goals, including increased safety and sustainability. To reap those far-reaching benefits, miners should look beyond automated vehicles and bring autonomy to a range of mining activities, thinking of autonomy as an embedded, fundamental capability. Doing so will make mining more produc- tive, safe and sustainable – and, ultimately, more competitive. The building blocks of autonomy Bringing more autonomy to mining will require technologies ranging from the IoT, automated decision to extensive Eric Croeser, Industry X MD for Accenture in Africa.

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44  MODERN MINING  October 2020