Demonstrating ROI for Underground Mining Simulation Software
idoba is evolving mining simulation software – no longer is it the exclusive domain of simulation specialists using complex simulation frameworks and custom-built libraries to perform expensive scope restricted studies and consulting that can take months.
Now mining teams can make use of simulation in their everyday workflows – this is where increased productivity, mitigating risks, and reducing operational costs are best uncovered and can be most easily exploited. Quickly, easily and without a steep learning curve.
In this article, we examine how underground mining companies using idoba.sim, see a return on investment, sometimes within a single day.
What is Mining Simulation Software?
The latest mining simulation software like idoba.sim is changing the game for the industry because it’s built by mining engineers and operations people for use in everyday mining operations, and it’s using new advanced agent-based modelling technology.
Simulation itself adds new insights to the decisions being made, not previously available.
For example, a mining plan is generated using linear maths and assumptions. Plan outcomes are calculated as best they can be depending on how good the formulas and assumptions are.
Whereas agent-based simulation generates outcomes from first principles using autonomous agents interacting in a replica mining environment to achieve their respective goals.
These interactions together produce the outcomes and when run multiple times for a scenario, generate a range of likelihoods vs targets. Further, understanding causes behind outcomes can be found by examining the flow of interactions between agents e.g. loaders and trucks at different work areas.
How Simulation Software is Creating True Value for Underground Mining Operators
Doing field trials of different scenarios to test their effectiveness is time consuming and expensive. If you want to test the impact of adding another truck to the fleet as an example, that’s a multimillion-dollar experiment. For many other cases it’s not feasible. For example, if you wanted to test different road designs for impact on traffic flows for a new area of mining.
Sometimes making changes turns out to be costly errors – better to test these digitally first.
Mining simulation like idoba.sim enables the digital execution of operational plans and schedules offering valuable insights into potential outcomes under various circumstances and what the associated probabilities look like.
When scenarios can be simulated quickly and easily as part of a planning or improvement process, day to day, the true power of simulation comes into its own.
The closer to the operations execution decision making space we can use simulation, the faster and easier it is it to make changes and gain the benefits. These are some examples we have seen at idoba through working with customers to simulate their underground mining operations.
Identify Ore Production & Productivity Gains with Simulation
In one case a customer wanted to see if the size and location of stockpiles could materially improve their ore movement to surface. We experimented with placing stockpiles closer to mining fronts and increasing their size. We were able to identify an optimum size for stockpiles that could achieve an additional haul cycle of ore per allocated truck per shift. The scenario variations and runs were completed in less than a day.
In another case, a customer wanted to discover the limits of truck and loader productivity. What was the optimum allocated trucks for a loader before an additional loader should be deployed and what would be the most productive truck allocation split be.
Another customer was interested to see if changes to areas mined concurrently could be simulated to minimise congestion. What was the best planning guidance they should adopt to avoid excessive congestion and the truck productivity loss. By running a representative set of the different scenarios, we could see those scenarios that had less congestion and improved truck productivity.
Simulating Tangible Cost Savings for Pre-feasibility Study
Doing fleet size comparisons in pre-feasibility using idoba.sim is very quick, saving time, and costs vs using consultants.
A customer wanted to look at the additional fleet needed for their mine expansion. OEM spec sheets on load and performance for different fleet were used, as well as the customer’s own performance data for existing fleet, to run scenarios that gradually built up to targeted peak rates of movement. In this case the customer could be more confident in the options and their likely outcomes. Compared to their spreadsheet modelling, there was potential to reduce one truck from the intended fleet and still be able to meet peak rates needed.
Importantly all the movement and equipment productivity data was readily available for further scenario refinement when the project moved into feasibility.
Simulation Software Reduces Errors and Boosts Efficiency
How does a well-established underground mine understand the complex interrelationships between resources and work schedules to improve for safety, reduce operational risks, and increase efficiency?
By using a simulation tool like idoba.sim to test their three month plan assumptions and rates using example schedules for representative shifts at normal and peak mining activity, flexing equipment allocation and mining fronts.
Simulation created data and 3D visualisations is great to use when conducting plan alignment between planning and operations teams – it’s tangible and if needed revised scenarios can be run within minutes to compare and further understand what’s ahead for operations as they execute the plan.
Embracing the Future of Mining Simulation Software
At idoba, we've put advanced simulation software into the hands of mining professionals. Simulation software is no longer just for specialists. We’ve made it easier and more accessible for everyone to use simulation in their everyday workflows.
Our customers are using idoba.sim to optimise load and haul in underground mining, however, our team are rapidly adding features like development advance and different equipment agents. These features will expand the number and types of scenarios mine planners and operators will be able to perform – all of which hold promise for generating further returns on the investment in using simulation as part of everyday workflows.
We fully expect customers will continue to uncover novel ways to use simulation in operations, they certainly have to date.
Ready to Unlock the Potential of Your Underground Mine?
Let our team show you idoba.sim and explore how you could use it to improve your operations. Request a meeting to discuss today.