Scaling by intelligence - The key to planning for sustainable future in mining
Scaling by intelligence - The key to planning for a sustainable future in mining
Mining is the ultimate real-world industry. Wresting minerals from the ground has been an exciting, complex, and often dangerous enterprise since humans first discovered their usefulness. Scale has traditionally been achieved by increasing the labour force, taking greater risks and aggressively seeking new resources.
Technology develops quickly to respond to the pressure to dig deeper, faster, and even safer. Buckets, winches, underground rails…picks, shovels and explosives, mechanised trolleys and diggers were all adopted to serve the productivity goal. Pumps dealt with water ingress, lifts sank workers far underground, safety lamps and ventilation systems enabled workers to live longer.
Mining has always been quick to adopt technology that helps the bottom line, advancing through physical scale. In an era of massive data flows and automation, mining must move beyond brute-force scaling towards systems that are adaptive, interconnected, and most of all intelligent.
Ahead of APCOM in Perth in August, we sat down with Maptek CEO Eduardo Coloma to discover the conversations he is looking forward to around how mining will need to evolve and the agents that can foster that change so we can truly plan for a sustainable future.
Q: What does this change in focus from physical scale to intelligence scale mean for miners who are facing a completely digital mining supply chain?
A: Eduardo Coloma: Miners are looking for seamless integration and adaptability. They need solutions that provide critical insights to anyone, anytime, and anywhere. Data-driven solutions are essential to optimise operations, and there's a strong move towards a predictive approach that accounts for uncertainty and complexity. At the heart of this shift lies a transformation that is integral to success, enabling collaboration, making data easy to access, and being flexible enough to move from a deterministic to a probabilistic approach. This is the essential key to break down data silos and ensure that information flows seamlessly from planning and design to operations and financial decision making. Ultimately, it will help miners who seek to reduce risk and create resilient, future-ready businesses.
Q: What emerging technologies will be critical for success - both for providers and consumers?
A: Eduardo Coloma: We can take advantage of the large number of algorithms available by creating a hybrid approach that focuses on the problem we want to solve, rather than the techniques themselves. In fact, making use of this variety is a major opportunity today. It enhances efficiency and accuracy and alleviates time-consuming manual work. Technologies like cloud computing are essential for scalable, data-driven solutions. Large language models (LLMs) can enhance online help and customer learning experiences. For providers, a platform-based approach that enables automated data pipelines is key. For consumers, interoperability of data and systems that enables a shift from reactive to predictive decision making is vital.
Q: What do you mean by simulation and optimisation?
A: Eduardo Coloma: Simulation involves creating models that are ideally based on a combination of data and first principles that allow us to test previously unseen and future what-if scenarios. Optimisation involves finding the best possible solution, usually subject to some constraints. Mining
operations are complex systems that can be analysed, tested and improved using these techniques. Managing them requires moving beyond linear cause-and-effect models. Maptek uses multi-objective optimisation frameworks that allow trade-offs between competing objectives, revealing ambiguities and ensuring robust planning and decision making in the face of increasing uncertainty. Our software can run hundreds of scenarios simultaneously, enabling the system to learn from each iteration and present a range of high-quality solutions. This approach is where the key to a successful future lies.
Q: What do you believe are hallmarks of successful innovation in mining technology?
A: Eduardo Coloma: Hallmarks of innovation include a culture of curiosity and continuous learning. It’s about investing in people, technology, and strategic partnerships. It’s about embracing new technologies, like AI and cloud computing, and encouraging staff to explore new ideas and experiment. As referenced in the introduction, innovation may no longer be served by physical scaling - innovation means developing integrated and adaptable systems that provide critical insights and data-driven solutions. It’s also about anticipating future challenges and proactively developing solutions that address them.
Q: How does the application of computers in mining align with Maptek's strategic direction?
A: Eduardo Coloma: The application of computers in mining is central to our strategic direction. We focus on developing software and hardware that leverage data and technology to optimise mining operations. We look to evolve digitalisation beyond data collection to automation and orchestration, making full use of every data point to improve efficiency and decision making. We are leveraging AI for scheduling optimisation and geological domaining. We are building a platform anchored by data services, cloud computing, and orchestration. Not all of those interoperable elements will be ‘owned’ by Maptek; many will be customer, third party or open source systems. Our goal is to provide integrated solutions that span the entire mining lifecycle, enabling customers to move towards a predictive, data-driven approach. We aim to bridge the gap between technical insights and strategic business decisions, empowering mining companies to optimise operations and create resilient businesses.