21 Apr GMG publishes guideline for sharing Open Data Sets in mining
Sharing of open data sets aims to enable safety and productivity driven technologies
The purpose of this guideline is to provide mining industry stakeholders with best practices for data sharing that are based on existing initiatives so that they can benefit from the opportunities that open data can offer. This guideline is directed towards readers who intend to share data with others, those who are involved in the approval process, and users who want to use open data shared by the mining industry.
This guideline is divided into two key sections. The first is a section on management considerations, which describes the value of open data sets and provides the context required to understand the process. The second is a section on implementation considerations, which explains processes for sharing open data sets once the guideline user has decided to proceed.
On the value of this guideline, Rob Johnston, Manager of IS Solutions Delivery at CITIC Pacific Mining says, “This guideline is of significant importance to the mining industry, containing best practices that aim to give rise to the development and production of openly available data sets, which can then be used freely to streamline advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning, improving safety and productivity throughout operations.”
On the industry need, Louis-Pierre Campeau, Engineering Manager – Data Science at Newtrax says, “The current lack of open data sets inhibits advancements on the safety and productivity boosting technologies, which ultimately benefit the entire mining industry.”
However, there are also costs, challenges, and risks associated with the collection, administration, internal communication, and maintenance of any open data set. “Although open data is an incredibly valuable resource for the mining industry, its cultivation and production is one that must be treated with caution and this guideline certainly acknowledges this, with an entire section dedicated on the subject,” says Andrew Scott, GMG Vice-Chair Working Groups and National Cluster Development Manager at METS Ignited.
Speaking about the guideline’s varied users, Michelle Levesque, Engineering Technical Lead at Natural Resources Canada says, “This guideline can be used by any stakeholder group within the mining industry that is interested in understanding the benefits of open data and how it can be applied to introduce advancements in artificial intelligence technologies.”
“It also aims to help organizations understand whether sharing data is ideal for their situation and the process to follow in making a data set openly available,” says Levesque. Her thoughts are echoed by Campeau, who adds that these best practices “effectively streamline a path forward for open data sets development and production.”
Campeau, Johnston, and Levesque are the project co-leaders for the Open Data Sets for AI in Mining Project.
Publication is only intended to be the beginning of this guideline’s journey. It aims to act as a catalyst for future collaborative data sharing initiatives and promote advancements in technology within a rapidly growing ecosystem. Future GMG work will be determined and prioritized by the GMG Artificial Intelligence Working Group.
GMG welcomes all industry stakeholders to share their feedback on how they are using the guideline and recommendations for improvements in future iterations.
Full guideline available here.
The Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG) is a network of like-minded companies driving change in the mining industry. Together, we help develop knowledge, educate, and guide the global mining industry. We monitor the pulse of the industry and develop multi-disciplinary guidelines and strategies to manage risk, enhance performance, design solutions, inform planning and decision making, and save time and money. Our members are mining companies, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), original technology manufacturers (OTMs), research organizations and consultants from around the world who recognize that innovation does not happen in silos. GMG improves communication and facilitates collaboration to foster a more sustainable and efficient future for mining. Our multi-stakeholder working groups address topics such as interoperability, data access and usage, artificial intelligence, autonomous equipment, underground communication, battery-electric equipment, and comminution efficiency in mining.
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