Greg Lane , Qld Resources Council (QRC)

The Outlook for the Queensland Resources Industry

Abstract:
In response to sustained global demand for energy, metals and minerals; energy security concerns; and the environmental impact of energy use and associated changing public perceptions, the sector over the coming decades will seek to meet market demand by substantially increasing output as well as continuing to diversify its commodity and export destination profile.

The QRC will overview the global drivers of this growth and profile the significant capital expenditure currently proposed for Queensland. What the resources sector could look like come 2020 will also be discussed, as well as some of the hurdles to getting there.

Biography:
To be provided

Abstract:
Implementing ICT tools to improve mine site safety and productivity. This is through improved remote communications technology and remote imaging. It also includes high and low precision machine guidance and will also cover database technology.

Biography:
Ben Willey, specialist in mining technology uptake. Thiess operates 14 mines in Australia and Indonesia. Having worked in Queensland and NSW coal and WA Nickel operations Ben Willey has experience in both technical and managerial roles across the Thiess portfolio of contract mining operations. Ben currently manages the technical activities undertaken by Thiess’ Australian Mining support personnel in Brisbane, including the delivery of technology based solutions to mining projects. The department’s role extends from initial engagement with technology suppliers, subsequent trialling of and selection of technology and finally coordination of implementation and ongoing support once embedded within operations.

Mark Watt, CTG and Andrea Herklots, Geoimage

Use of Spatial Data by the Resource Industry

Abstract:
The value of spatial information to the resource sector is extensive. A greater variety of remote sensing technology is now more accessible, capable of higher resolutions and achieving greater accuracies. This is driving very large scale satellite, airborne and terrestrial image data acquisition activity and generating vast volumes of data requiring more automated processing techniques and innovative solutions for storage, management and access for business integration. Visualisation technologies and image sensor fusion techniques are driving up the requirements for processing and data storage that can overwhelm most IT departments.

Cloud computing technologies have advanced to offer secure, responsive and cost-effective alternatives to traditional GIS solutions for distributed project collaborators. A fresh approach is required for organisations to benefit from the use and reuse of spatial data to deliver greater return on the investment in ICT expenditure and skills.

Biographies:
Mark Watt is Managing Director of CTG Consulting, a well established Brisbane based consulting practice. With more than 25 years of experience in the ICT industry Mark demonstrates a broad range of capabilities from technical through sales, marketing, business management and strategic planning. He has a background in Surveying, Environmental Science and Computer Science. During most of his career he has applied himself to the strategic application of spatial information technology and associated processes that deliver business outcomes. He has provided consulting services to many governments, utilities and corporate clients in developing and assessing business plans, compiling strategic plans and management of development projects. He is particularly concerned with information management practices applicable to very large data sets, specifically spatial imagery and derived products for visualisation, simulation and business integration.

Andrea Herklots has been working in the spatial science field since graduating with an MSc in Remote Sensing from University College London in the mid 1980s. Her focus has consistently been on the application of GIS technologies to assist decision making in business. Her initial placement with the CSIRO Exploration Geoscience division gave a sound grounding for the application of remote sensing to the resource sector, while subsequent positions in private sector consultancy and government have reinforced the need for effective communication on how geospatial data and the underpinning ICT technology can add value to business. Her current role, as GeoSpatial Manager at Geoimage Pty Ltd, involves managing a team of geospatial professionals and defining methodologies and dataset packages that offer value added services to industry.

Process Control Solutions for the Mining Industry

Abstract:
Real time process control systems have unique requirements within the spectrum of ICT capabilities and systems.

MIPAC is a Brisbane based control systems engineering business that has its roots in Mount Isa Mines and the majority of its engineering work has been in the mineral processing industry. Many of MIPAC’s significant control systems projects have been delivered overseas in conjunction with Xstrata Technology.

The challenges for mineral processing plant managers and operators is increasing.

New operations are increasingly fly in, fly out based, access to experienced process and operating staff is more and more limited and combine with increasing operating costs not to mention the prospect of additional costs of carbon/energy reporting and new regulation.

What can the ICT factor bring to this challenge?

Bill will explore MIPAC’s perspective of these challenges and some of the opportunities.

Biography:
Bill McKeague is a Business Development Consultant with Mipac Pty Ltd.

Bill started his professional career at Mount Isa Mines in 1979 gaining 13 years of experience in many aspects of the plant and smelter control systems and site communications and network services, working in project and R&D roles.

Bill has also worked in business development roles in defence and tele-communications industries both in product and service businesses.

Smashing Rocks with Water Jets - the Next Big Thing in Mining

Abstract:
First and foremost mining is about breaking rock. Primary rock breakage operations when performed poorly have expensive knock-on effects in the subsequent mining processes of rock handling and secondary breakage. CRCMining with a large gold mining company, and the award-winning Toowoomba-based manufacturer Russell Mineral Equipment, and the financial support of the Queensland Government is developing a new technology that promises to significantly improve the efficiency of rock breaking operations. This technology uses very high velocity (greater than the speed of sound) water pulses to impact on rock boulders. These water bullets create impact stresses on the rock that cause the boulders to fracture within seconds. To date impressive results have been obtained successfully splitting large boulders with water pulses only 3mm in diameter. During this project apparatus will be built that will enable water pulses of 20mm in diameter to be directed onto the rock targets. The energy in each one of the pulses in these larger diameter jets will be equivalent to the blow energy from the large impact hammers often seen working on construction sites. However, the stresses induced in the rock by the jets are much greater than those caused by the hammer and the blow frequency of the jets is about an order of magnitude more than the hammer. Consequently the damage produced is expected to be correspondingly higher. This is a very exciting project that has the potential to reinforce Queensland’s premier position as the world-leading mining technology provider.

Biography:
Prof Michael Hood is an internationally-recognised authority in the fields of rock breakage and high pressure water jet technology. He holds BSc degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Mining Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne (UK); he gained his PhD from the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). Professor Hood started his career in South Africa. He spent 15 years working as an academic at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1993 he assumed his current position as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of CRCMining. This Research Centre is an incorporated joint venture between many of the world’s major mining companies, five universities and some global mining equipment manufacturers. It exists to develop new technologies for the global mining industry.

Lifecycle Data for Mining -
A look at the data capture and sharing challenges faced in mining today

Abstract:
Data capture and sharing challenges apply over the lifetime of a large scale asset or a plant, whether the organisation concerned is:

• an EPCM generating information or collecting from sub-contractors, internal departments, or a complex array of design tools
• the owner/operator collecting information from various sources such as EPCMs or maintenance teams

Data warehousing provides a single source of truth for organisations by validating data from various engineering sources and contains all information, regardless of authoring tool, which the organisation deems valuable.

The standard now released for interoperability and integration of lifecycle information, ISO 15926, defines how data is stored and exchanged across computer applications and organizations and Bentley will provide insight into how their solutions can improve this process.

Biographies:
Pieter Neethling was born and educated in South Africa. He obtained a Higher National Diploma in Mining Engineering and completed a Management Development Programme at the School for Business Leadership at the University of Johannesburg.

He spent 8 years working in mine production environment for a major mining company. This was followed by 10 years in the explosive industry fulfilling several roles from Explosives Engineer, Product Development Manager to Regional Business Manager. His growing interest in mining technical systems led him to Graphic Mining Solutions International and later to AngloGold Ashanti where he was responsible for the management, evaluation and deployment of appropriate technology solutions for the Mineral Resource Management department.

Pieter and his family emigrated to Australia in January 2009 and he is now the Global Solution Executive for Mining & Metals for Bentley Systems.

Bentley is a leading supplier of engineering technology for sustainable infrastructure serving the mining, building, geospatial, process plant, transport and local infrastructure markets.


Alan Luxford was born in Victoria, Australia and studied both Civil and Structural Engineering. He worked as a senior design drafter in the oil & gas, mining and heavy industries for 20 years, both locally and overseas, with engagements in London, Brunei and the Philippines. Alan has trained in the major CAD offerings from Intergraph, Autodesk and Bentley, and has more recently undertaken studies in sales management and documenting user requirements.

Alan later took on the role of Director for an engineering IT company in Melbourne and spent over 12 years consulting and implementing plant design, manufacturing and engineering document and data management systems for many large industrial clients and engineering houses.

Alan joined the Bentley Plant team in 2005 and is currently Industry Manager for Plant in the South East Asia & Pacific (SEAPac) region. Alan is Bentley’s Global Account Manager for BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, and is also responsible for the growth of Bentley’s mining solutions throughout the SEAPac region.