Wednesday, October 18
The Value Proposition of Moving Training from the Classroom to the Metaverse
Mary Poulton, CEO | Desert Saber
Companies have achieved great gains in operations productivity and cost reduction from technology, but training has not achieved similar gains from technology. Classroom training can only measure what a worker has retained in working or short-term memory, most of which is quickly forgotten, and research shows only 10% of training is transferred to the job. Learning is a change in long-term memory. Regulated safety training is time not competency based because classroom environments cannot produce long-term memory changes or measure competency changes over time. Metaverse training uses digital twin and streaming technology to create realistic virtual work environments in which employees can access training and practical exercises at their own pace. Content is streamed to smart phones and tablets with no software to download. Metaverse training is engaging, which further improves learning. True learning can be achieved and measured. Trainers and managers can correlate detailed competency data with productivity and safety data. Teams can train within and across organizational units. Communication skills are measured. Sessions adapt to each worker’s level for improved learning.
Open Discussion: Autonomous Mining: Creating a Sustainable Future
The mining industry is increasingly embracing automation as a safety and productivity enabler and as a critical factor in creating a sustainable future of mining. For these reasons, automation is a key part of many mining companies’ digital transformation roadmaps alongside advances in artificial intelligence, system integration, remote operations, and the Internet of Things. While autonomous mining is innovating the mining industry, it also introduces new challenges. This discussion will look at the challenges and opportunities autonomous mining presents, and share good practices to take back to your operation.
Working Session: Autonomous Mining: Are you Ready for Deployment?
Is your operation about to deploy autonomous equipment into a new or existing operation? What is everything that needs to be considered to ensure you can safely operate your mine? Join others in identifying what needs to be considered, what can go wrong, what you need to be aware of, and more.
Advances in Swarm Robotic Mining on Earth and on The Moon
Jim Keravala, CEO | OffWorld
OffWorld is building swarms of interoperable low-cost robots that can undertake autonomous end-to-end mining in both open pit and underground mines. This presentation will cover some of the upcoming product deployments, next stages and how OffWorld’s terrestrial Swarm Robotic Mining will significantly reduce the cost of upstream extraction and mid-stream processing, take people out of harm’s way and the reduce carbon footprint of mine operations. By being able to mine deeper in previously uneconomical ore bodies, these robots will open up new mine opportunities compatible with current environmental and economic considerations.
Improving Maintenance with Digital Twin Technology for Conveyer Belts and Crushers
Mauricio Gomez Tabilo, Regional Account Manager Southwest (Arizona, Nevada, and California) | Innomotics
Digital twins are becoming increasingly popular in various industries, including mining processes. They allow for the assessment of system variables that are challenging to measure in real life. The presentation will showcase the concept of digital twins and examples of how digital twins have been utilized to detect anomalies and identify the root cause of failures in an actual conveyor system.
Working Session: Fostering an Innovation Mindset
Patrick McNeil, Founder and Chief Navigation Officer | Chart House Solutions
A big change is coming – how do you ensure you communicate it effectively so that all employees at all levels of an organization understand and buy into the change? This is an experiential working session exploring the power of the Hand-Mind Connection using LEGO® Serious Play® Methods (LSP).
Industry Action on Scope 3 – Supply Chain
Luke Eisenhauer, Client Development Manager | Schneider Electric Renewable Energy & Carbon Advisory
Leading companies/industries are tackling Scope 3 Supply Chain emissions as the largest opportunity for decarbonization, and best practices and solutions are being determined which can benefit the mining sector. Segment collaboration allows us to pool resources and develop the guidelines that allow Scope 3 decarbonization to advance concurrently with our local Scope 1 & 2 initiatives. Addressing the raw materials sector will have global impact, and this must be achieved programmatically – through seamless and accessible supplier tools, and harmonized data and reporting for sponsor organizations. Now is the time to align as an industry and provide the pathway for our suppliers to take action.
Panel: Harnessing the Power of Data
As new technologies and systems are adopted in the mining industry, they produce a wider range of data, which is being used for critical decision-making, reducing costs, optimizing processes, forecasting, trend analysis and more. However, the industry is also facing many challenges with integration, interoperability, and the overall management of data. Together we’ll look at the key needs and potential steps forward.
Panellists:
- Russ Downer, CEO and Founder | Open Contour
- Nick Venter, Business Growth Manager – Digital and Data | Epiroc
- Blaine Tait, Wireless Geotechnical Monitoring Expert | Worldsensing
Thursday, October 19
Collaboration Driving Industry Innovation
Heather Ednie, CEO | Global Mining Guidelines Group
Global Mining Guidelines Group provides a collaborative and innovative space for stakeholders across the mining industry to share knowledge, expertise and experience to develop operator-driven guidance, resources, and common practices in response to industry demand. Learn more about how you can make an impact through GMG.
Panel: Leveraging Expertise with Industry-University Relationships
Industry is in need of swift transformation – new technologies, new processes, new highly skilled people. Working closely with academia will help define future skills requirements and support development of tomorrow’s workforce. Universities also have vast resources of skilled people for research and development, are proficient in accessing funding, and more. During this panel you will hear from academia about what they can offer, how industry can leverage and work with them more, and provide examples of successful partnerships.
Panellists:
- Rob Hall, Interim Head, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering and Head, Department of Mining Engineering and Management | South Dakota Mines
- Misael Cabrera, Director, School of Mining & Mineral Resources | University of Arizona
- W. Pratt Rogers, Associate Professor | University of Utah
The Future of Mining: Leveraging AI-Driven Technologies for Global Impact
Erman Koc, Founder, CEO & CIO | Airth.io
The mining industry is at the cusp of a technological revolution, driven by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics. These technologies are not just optimizing the mine value chain but are also having a profound impact on global supply chains and energy needs. This talk will delve into how AI-driven predictive technologies, like those offered by Airth.io, are transforming traditional mining operations into smart, efficient, and sustainable systems. We will explore the ripple effects of these technologies on global supply chains, emphasizing how they contribute to making them more resilient and efficient. Furthermore, we will discuss the role of AI in meeting the growing energy needs sustainably, thereby contributing to global energy security.
Join us as we explore the future of mining, a future where data-driven decisions are leading to safer, more efficient, and more responsible mining practices.
Working Session: Putting People First
Success relies on the people. Are there enough workers with the required skills? Is value brought to the communities in or near where we operate? Are we a hip, attractive, positively impactful, and innovative industry that people want to work in? We live in a world that demands transparency, proof of ethical sourcing, work-life balance, and the betterment of humankind from companies big and small, local and global. How can we foster and nurture diversity, better prepare youth to work in today’s industry, move your people-focused employees into management positions, and make sure our actions benefit biodiversity?
Exploring Some Concepts of Trolley Assist (TA) Implementation in Open Pit Projects
Gabriel Andrés Barahona Gutiérrez, Technical Manager | Tellus Mining
TA projects in open pit are not new, but they are recently experiencing an impulse due to environmental pressures over mining industry to reduce its GHG emissions. TA projects in open pit is an opportunity to contribute to miners GHG goals, but it is not enough to completely success. Additionally, these projects involve many infrastructure requirements and operational interferences along its full project lifetime. This work explores, not exhaustively, such challenges through questions to push positive discussions.
Panel: Next Generation Mining: Enabling Industry Transformation
Emerging technology is hitting the market at unprecedented rates. The ideas spawned in Sci-Fi books are becoming reality. Robots and autonomous systems, AI, gamification, digital twins, simulation, batteries, sensors and more – every aspect of the mine operation of the future will potentially evolve as industry adopts new tools and systems. We need to be prepared. What will be the impact of these new technologies? What problems are they solving? How do we ensure we are ready? How do we maximize their value? We’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities emerging technologies present, and share good practices to take back to your operation.
Panellists:
- Garrett Kramer, GEOVIA Technical Executive | 3DS Dassault Systèmes
- Ben Weber, Principal Solutions Architect | Amazon
- Michael Bobotis, Principal Mining Engineer and Consultant | Hatch
Breakout: Rethinking Mine Design
As an industry we’re challenged with meetings targets while maintaining safe operations. Innovative technologies from beyond mining are now available to our industry – but we’re limited in what we can do as a lot of underground mine designs are based on technology that has not fundamentally changed in years. There are rules and standards to meet so the idea of mine design needs transformational work to enable optimizing new technologies and enabling such things as ESG-led mine design. No more square pegs in round holes!
Data and Decarbonization: Demonstrating What’s Possible
Speaker TBC | Stream Systems
Abstract to come