DAY 1 - NOVEMBER 26

SESSION I: The Present and the Future of AI & Data Analytics in Mining 

Tuesday, November 26, 2024
8:00 AM - 8:55 AM
 
 
8:55 AM - 9:00 AM
 
Giulia Jalmerot-Timarco
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
 
Dr Richard Walley
9:05 AM - 9:10 AM
 
 
9:10 AM - 9:40 AM

•    Understanding how it supports production 
•    Looking at ways to keep its people and communities safe
•    Monitoring ESG impacts
 

Daniel Evans
9:40 AM - 10:20 AM

•    Navigating challenges and harnessing opportunities with digital technologies.
•    Change management: Collaborating with the team during the digital transition, ensuring smooth adoption, and maximising the benefits.
•    From “Pit to Port”: Digital application across the mining logistic chain.
•    Evaluating technological impact: Adding value vs. Non-adding value innovations.
•    Discussing data-driven decision-making.
•    Case studies and lessons learned: Real-world applications.
•    Glancing at upcoming technological advancements.

Brigette Hendersonhall
10:20 AM - 10:50 AM

This session highlights technology innovators and their current projects. Each presentation is 10 min.  

 
10:50 AM - 11:20 AM
 
 
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM

•    Exploring the technology behind it.
•    Understanding the optimisation of specific mining processes.
•    Analysing how it can reduce costs and improve efficiency.
•    Looking at real-world case studies and successful implementation.

 
11:50 AM - 12:10 PM

•    Understanding how it can be used in mining.
•    Looking at what processes can be automated.
•    Looking at real-life case studies. 

Dr. Rachna Dhand
12:10 PM - 12:30 PM

•    Tailored ML Solutions in Mining and Exploration: In the mining and exploration sectors, custom machine learning solutions are often necessary to extract meaningful value from geoscience data.
•    Challenges and Solutions: Developing effective, bespoke machine learning models to solve critical business problems in geoscience requires deep domain expertise. However, expertise alone is insufficient. Without a clear path to production, these models remain mere experiments rather than functional solutions.
•    From Proof of Concept to Operational Solutions: Showcasing recent examples of transforming proof-of-concept projects into fully operational solutions by leveraging composable cloud computing architectures.


 

Rian Dutch
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
 
 
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

•    Understanding how Monte Carlo simulations and Large Language Models can be employed to assess AI vendor capabilities, focusing on aligning with Roy Hill's strategic goals.
•    Exploring the comprehensive vendor evaluation framework is developed, combining survey results with independent LLM assessments for multi-dimensional analysis.
•    Looking at the Multi-Persona LLM framework is tested for problem-solving capabilities, showing improvement with prompt engineering and curated personas.
•    Vendor feedback and enhanced evaluation metrics are incorporated to mitigate information asymmetry and confirmation bias.
•    Debating how future research will refine methodologies, explore knowledge graphs, and develop a diverse library of personas to enhance AI capability assessments.
 

Oliver Chikumbo
1:50 PM - 2:30 PM

•    Discussion challenges of deploying the technology.
•    Looking at safety, data sharing, and ethical concerns regarding AI and data.
•    Debating where AI works and where it doesn’t.
•    Exploring alternative solutions such as machine learning, optimisation, and simulation.
•    Unravelling the best way to use data and how it can add value.
•    Data interoperability: Production data vs Data points generated by OEMs – Best practices and how to move forward.

Erin Bell Krista Bell Vikash Singh Dr Ali Soofastaei
2:30 PM - 2:50 PM

•    Exploring the power of traditional BI tools to uncover performance insights  
•    Uncover actionable insights with AI-powered visuals  
•    Unleashing the future of data analysis with GenAI 

Paulo Martins
2:50 PM - 3:10 PM

•    Data Infrastructure: Companies have invested in data systems (sensors, control systems) but struggle to convert data into real value.
•    Current State: Most rely on dashboards for visualization, not for improving performance.
•    AI for Optimisation: Use cases show AI can improve operations, optimize yields, grades, energy, and productivity.
•    Environmental Benefits: AI-driven optimization often leads to reduced environmental impacts.
•    Trust is Crucial: Success depends on operators trusting AI tools for effective process control.
•    Future of Mining: Industry at a pivotal point; AI solutions can prescribe actions, deliver results, and build trust with the workforce.
•    Call to Action: Now is the time to invest in AI that goes beyond data display to actionable insights and real-world results.
 

Katya Vladislavleva
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM
 
 
3:40 PM - 4:00 PM

•    Understanding the technology ecosystem. 
•    Discussing challenges around procurement and how to tackle them.
•    Exploring the needs, the decision process, and available solutions.
•    Choosing the right partners – Criteria, presentation, IP, and decision process.

 
4:00 PM - 4:15 PM

•    Understand how digitization disrupts and shapes the future of the mining sector, as well as explore the possibilities of emerging IoT technologies.  Learn about the possibilities of IoT technologies and their implications. 
•    Explore how digitization can be achieved on complex mining and industrial sites through the use of basic prerequisite – lights.
•    Examine a series of case studies, explore the collected data and analyze its effects on the operation of the sites. 
 

Andrew Orkin
4:15 PM - 4:55 PM

Each round table is given a different topic, and attendees select the round table they want to participate in. Round table leaders spend the first 15 minutes meeting the delegates and providing a case study/lessons learned log/industry update. This is followed by a 30-minute discussion moderated by the roundtable leader with the group, during which they can give feedback and ask questions. The final 10 –15 minutes are dedicated to agreeing on 3 -5 industry recommendations. These recommendations will be made available to attendees in the post-event report. 

  1. Change Management and Digital Transformation – Discussing challenges and opportunities. 
  2. Deploying digital technologies in greenfield projects. Discussing challenges and opportunities.
    Previn Pillay, Pyromin Consulting 
  3. Cloud Strategy: Transforming mining operations with the cloud. 
  4. Deploying and adapting cybersecurity across mining operations.
  5. Digital Twins: Integrating and managing large-scale data from various sources.
    Kevin Kidd, WGA
Previn Pillay Kevin Kidd
4:55 PM - 5:00 PM
 
Clayton Dunn
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
 
 

DAY 2 - NOVEMBER 27

SESSION II: Automation & Robotics – Building the Mine of the Future

Wednesday, November 27, 2024
9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

•    Discuss how to improve interoperability between assets and increase technology integration. 
•    Harnessing the power of mine site operational data to improve mining operations.
•    Discussing the fully automated mine – Where are we, and looking at the future.
•    Collision avoidance systems: Implementation challenges and discussing next steps.
 

Patrick Marshall Jean-Loup Loyer
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM

•    Looking into the underpinning purpose of mine automation 
•    Understanding the challenges to achieving purposeful mine automation
•    Discovering the pathway to ward that 

 
10:20 AM - 10:40 AM

•    Understanding mine site requirements.
•    Exploring current trends and where the industry is heading.
•    Debating on the role of technology and innovation in creating autonomous mines. 
•    Discussing pros and cons of shifting to smaller vehicles.
•    Unveiling the value and return on investment (ROI) of deploying smaller vehicles.

 
10:40 AM - 11:10 AM
 
 
11:10 AM - 11:40 AM

•    Exploring future innovation and research in mining robotics.
•    Highlighting workforce efficiency and sustainability.
•    Debating how robotics can be used in remote operations and monitoring.
•    Looking at how robotics can optimise energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of mining operations. 

Nicci Rossouw
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM

This session highlights technology innovators and their current projects. Each presentation is 10-15 mins.  

  1. Using Digital Innovation to Improve the Quality and Efficiency of Engineering Solutions.
    Jess Page, Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec
Jess Page
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
 
Jean-Loup Loyer
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
 
 

SESSION III: The Journey to Decarbonisation & the Energy Transition in Mining

Wednesday, November 27, 2024
1:30 PM - 1:40 PM
 
Sean Robson
1:40 PM - 2:20 PM

Technology and operational efficiency could reduce emissions by 20-30%.
•    Discussing the journey to the energy transition in mining.
•    Exploring the tech perspective and its role in the energy transition. 
•    Debating how we can reduce emissions while keeping up productivity. 
•    Where to invest in R&D to reduce emissions.
•    Discovering what technologies are available and which ones work.
•    Looking at best practices and lessons learned.
•    Evaluating the importance of strategic partnerships in the energy transition.
•    Data and emissions reporting and tracking.

Sean Robson Sibasis Acharya Rob Foster
2:20 PM - 2:50 PM

This session highlights technology innovators and their current projects. Each presentation is 10 min.  

 
2:50 PM - 3:20 PM
 
 
3:20 PM - 3:50 PM

•    Looking at best practices and challenges in power management 
•    Understanding the technology behind and what options are available

 
3:50 PM - 5:00 PM

Each round table is given a different topic, and attendees select the round table they want to participate in. Round table leaders spend the first 15 minutes meeting the delegates and providing a case study/lessons learned log/industry update. This is followed by a 30-minute discussion moderated by the roundtable leader with the group, during which they can give feedback and ask questions. The final 10 –15 minutes are dedicated to agreeing on 3 -5 industry recommendations. These recommendations will be made available to attendees in the post-event report. 

  1. Carbon tracking and reporting.
  2. The importance of DEI, leadership, and sustainability for the industry.  
  3. Deep dive into alternative fuel solutions.
  4. Digital Networks and their importance for both underground and above-ground operations. 
     
 
5:00 PM