Meeting global mining challenges 50 years on

Proposed sub-themes include:

Safety

• Functional safety
• This can include safety integrity levels and other safety aspects.
• Requirements of SIL Certified equipment on mine operators
• Automatic routines for diagnostic coverage on hoist systems
• Safety if controls fail – crashworthiness
• Safety incidents – equipment failure vs human error
• Collision avoidance in mobile fleets
• Emergency access, rescue and inspection

Automation and Autonomous Mining

• Robotics in mining
• Mining systems without people

Information technology

• Machine learning, digital twins and AI in hoist controls or in haul fleet management
• Use of AI and data management in design and implementation of projects
• AI and IT in predictive maintenance

Hoisting systems

• Hoist and shaft upgrades (hoist re-use and replacement of major components)
• Safety incidents – equipment failure vs human error
• Instrumentation for real-time life prediction
• Hoisting system inspection and maintenance (techniques, instrumentation and automation)
• Maintainability and skills for maintenance
• Knowledge management and organisational memory
• Future trends in hoist capabilities

Energy

• Use of hoists to store power – Gravity energy storage
• Energy usage
• Energy efficiency and power regeneration from hoists of the future
• With more and more temporary power solutions at the start of new mines, clean power for hoists has become important - filters and power banks
• Reliable hoisting on an unreliable regional power grid

Conveyors

• Aerial rope conveyors
• High angle and vertical conveyors

Vehicles and conveyances

• Electrical and hydrogen mining fleets
• Conveyance design and maintenance

Standards and regulations

• Standardisation and changes in standards and regulation

Projects

• Description of significant hoisting and haulage projects
• Performance of existing operations
• Refurbishment, expansion or re-opening of existing operations
• Major maintenance projects

Infrastructure

• Innovations in mine shaft hoisting infrastructure
• Overcoming infrastructure challenges – shaft depth, mining-induced rock strain, ground water, ventilation air flow

Papers describing disruptive concepts and research commercialisation dealing with any of these themes will be welcomed