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Tools for Mining Information
Modelling –
MineBIM use cases
10.11.2023, Jyrki Salmi
University of Oulu, Finland
Survey for participants:
Oulun yliopisto
Speaker: Jyrki Salmi
❑Academic present:
University of Oulu, Finland
Civil engineering unit, Digital Construction and Mining research area
-Doctoral researcher (PhD student), since Feb 2021, completion in autumn 2025
-Research director, Digitalization and automation of mining
❑Industrial background:
Master of Science in Mining and Process Engineering 1995 from Aalto University in Helsinki.
26 years of work history from Outokumpu company’s Kemi and Hitura mines.
-Has worked in numerous positions from Summer intern to Vice president of the mine and
Head of mine deepening project.
-Special expertise in mine planning, data processing, information management and
information systems, mining automation, digitalisation, strategy planning and managerial
work.
❑Visionary - Enabler - Researcher
jyrki.salmi@oulu.fi, tel. +358 40 838 6743
University of Oulu
Part A - Presentation
➢MINES: Digitalisation, data management and needs.
➢BIM: High-quality 3D models with semantic information,
incorporating graphical and non-graphical data through
object-oriented programming
➢MineBIM: An emerging technology with the potential to
enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability in mining
operations
➢Integration: Utilizes data points in 3D information models
to connect all related information to surfaces, solids, and
voids. Fundamentals and use cases of the MineBIM.
Survey for participants
“Tools for Mining Information Modelling –
MineBIM use cases”
10th Now 2023
University of Oulu
Part B – Round table
➢This informative and interactive round table
discussion will provide participants with a deeper
understanding of BIM's applications, implications,
and opportunities for the mining industry.
➢The focus of the discussion will be on how BIM
can benefit the mining industry by reducing
operating costs and increasing efficiency
throughout the life cycle of a mine.
➢There will be several interactive exercises to
ensure that each participant can relate to the
practical applications of MIM for their organisation.
“How can BIM benefit the mining industry by
reducing operating costs and increasing efficiency
across the mine lifecycle?”
9th Now 2023
University of Oulu
Digitalization process in mining
Development steps for the mine of the future must be taken
1. in digitalization and automation to increase productivity,
2. in monitoring the mining environment and events to improve
efficiency and safety, and
3. in understanding the big picture to improve business and
responsibility.
The digital mining industry also needs to consider
1. technical and organisational digital capabilities,
2. reliability of information, and
3. understanding the value of information.
Dall-E: “3D model of an underground mine
loaded with information where information is
flowing from one place to another”
University of Oulu
How to manage all the data
flows and information?
▪In mining, the value of data has traditionally not been identified in
many places in the data production and processing chain.
▪Which information is useful? = Traditional bigdata problem. => The
relevant information shall be specified.
▪Mixed data is needed to manage workflows based on data-driven
decision-making. Who needs what information and when?
➢You need to define which dataflows you want to manage and in
which context.
Machine-to-
machine
From machine to
human
From human to
machine
Human-to-human
From environment
to human
From human to
environment
From environment
to machine
From machine to
environment
Declarations:
•Machine i.e., mobile or fixed machinery or apparatus.
•Environment i.e., physical, digital or virtual operating
environment including data storages and visualization
tools.
In Human - Environment - Machine
interaction there are 8manageable
dataflows!
Dall-E
University of Oulu
What is important for a mine operator?
What are the needs of mines?
➢Main objectives are safety, productivity,
efficiency, and general waste reduction.
➢Time delays, unnecessary work and poor quality
must be eliminated; and risks, operating costs
and wastes reduced.
➢Up-to-date information management, real-time
monitoring and decision-making throughout the
process. Are we ready to start the next work?
➢The biggest operational benefit for mining
companies is how to keep to planned
schedules? Costs of late starts of production
can be significant.
Dall-E
University of Oulu
BIM (Building Information Modeling)
▪BIM technology covers the entire AEC industry (Architecture,
Engineering, Constructions):
✓Building construction (residential buildings, public buildings,
airports, hospitals, etc.),
✓Infrastructure (roads, railways), and
✓Engineering facilities (bridges, tunnels, power plants, but also
off-shore facilities or power grids)
▪Each of these industries has its own specifics and challenges.
They also often use various software to design or manage the
model. They are at different levels of adoption of BIM technology.
▪However, the basis and assumptions of BIM technology project
development are similar.
The International Standards
Organization (ISO) 19650 series,
which is commonly used in the
tunneling industry, defines BIM as
"The use of a shared digital
representation of a built asset to
facilitate design, construction and
operation processes to form a
reliable basis for decisions.”
BIM
Computer
analysis
Facilities
manager
Contractors
Design
teams
Client
Shared
knowledge
Conceptual
design
Detailed
design
Construction
Operation
Rebuild
Life cycle
process
University of Oulu
What about BIM in mining?
❑In mining, there is clear evidence that data flows from
design and construction handover to operation and
maintenance take place in the mining industry just as
they do in all industries.
❑It's not just called BIM in the mining industry –the
term hasn't appeared to the same extent as it has in
the construction industry and now especially in the
infrastructure construction industry.
❑It probably doesn't help that the abbreviation for BIM
contains the word Building. Rather, it should be MIM
(Mining Information Modeling). But the name doesn't
matter –it still means the same thing –a smart
model of something that will soon come true.
Dall-E
University of Oulu
❑BIM can be applied
from a single small
part of the mining
process to the entire
life cycle of the mine.
❑BIM can be applied
to various work
phases, work
machines and
process equipment.
❑BIM is most useful
when the entire
process from design
to maintenance is
based on BIM.
There are huge overlapping processes in mining
University of Oulu
BIM benefits in mining
✓With BIM, information is not destroyed at any stage of the
process, but collected and stored in to models continuously
i.e., increasing and developing the information pool and
flow: data-information-knowledge-wisdom.
✓Lean and sustainable development go well with information
management and BIM.
✓BIM enables the utilization of large amounts of data, real-
time data processing and digital twinning.
✓BIM enables collaboration and improves transparency of
information between project partners, such as owners,
engineers, and contractors.
✓BIM provides a dynamic and digital mining environment.
✓BIM fills a technology gap in the development of machine
automation in a mining environment.
Dall-E
The two main benefits of BIM in mining are:
1. Coordination of disciplines
2. Asset management (ore rather than
tunnels)
The two main values of BIM in mining are:
1. Visualization
2. Interface management
University of Oulu
What are the BIM barriers in mining?
❑The mining sector is more profit-driven than the
infrastructure or other construction sectors.
❑Mining is a private industry, unlike state-controlled
infrastructure where the government can say what to do
and how.
❑For BIM, it is vital that the information is available to
everyone and is not in the closed systems of different
OEMs.
❑The lack of awareness is primarily related to the value
and best practices generated by BIM in the
implementation of BIM in a mining project.
❑There is a need to define what the value of BIM is in
general and what its value is in a particular project.
❑Standardization of BIM for the mining industry needs to
be developed.
Dall-E
Dall-E
University of Oulu
BIM use cases
in mining
Dall-E
University of Oulu
BIM use cases in mining
The two obvious main use cases of BIM in mining are:
1. Constructability use cases
Refers to the assessment and assurance of the quality of design and
implementation to ensure that the planned construction can be built efficiently, cost-
effectively, and safely.
2. Operational use cases
Refers to the practical applications or scenarios in which a particular technology is
actively employed and utilized in daily operations or real-world situations.
Tunnelling use cases
Construction use cases
(vertical construction) Infrastructure use
cases (horizontal
construction)
Geo use
cases
Mining
use
cases
Existing
Existing
Existing and developing… To be developed…
Developing…
University of Oulu
Constructability use cases for BIM in mining?
What ChatGPT 3.5 tells you…
1. Tunnel and Shaft Construction: BIM can be used to create 3D models of tunnels and shafts, ensuring that the design is constructible and that geological conditions
are considered.
2. Blast Design and Safety: BIM can assist in planning blasts and ensuring that the designs take into account safety measures, such as blast barriers, ventilation, and
access points.
3. Underground Infrastructure: BIM helps in the design and construction of underground infrastructure, such as tunnels, mine shafts, and ore handling systems.
4. Material Handling Facilities: BIM supports the design of material handling facilities, optimizing the layout for efficient ore and waste material movement.
5. Plant and Processing Facilities: BIM can be applied to the design and construction of processing plants, helping with equipment placement and infrastructure
layout.
6. Structural Integrity: BIM ensures the structural integrity of constructed elements, minimizing the risk of collapses and hazards.
7. Construction Sequencing: BIM helps in planning the sequence of construction activities, ensuring that they are executed in the most efficient order.
8. Safety Measures: BIM can model and plan safety measures and equipment placements, such as safety chambers, fire suppression systems, and escape routes.
9. Logistics and Material Flow: BIM optimizes the logistics and material flow within mining operations, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.
10.Excavation and Earthwork: BIM assists in the planning of excavation and earthwork activities, ensuring that the design is feasible and can be executed safely.
11.Borehole and Drilling Design: BIM can be applied to borehole and drilling design, ensuring that drilling activities are constructible and accurate.
12.Environmental Mitigation: BIM helps plan and implement environmental mitigation measures, such as water management and land reclamation, ensuring they are
constructible and effective.
13.Quality Control: BIM can be used for quality control during construction, ensuring that the constructed elements adhere to design specifications.
14.Regulatory Compliance: BIM helps ensure that construction activities comply with regulatory requirements and permits, reducing the risk of compliance issues.
15.Site Access and Traffic Management: BIM assists in planning site access and traffic management, optimizing routes for vehicles and personnel.
University of Oulu
Operational use cases for BIM in mining?
What ChatGPT 3.5 tells you…
1. Daily Mine Planning: BIM can be used to create accurate 3D models of the mine site, helping with daily mine planning, such as determining ore locations, material
quantities, and equipment placement.
2. Blast Design: BIM assists in designing controlled explosions or blasts by simulating and visualizing the impact of the blast on the surrounding environment and
infrastructure.
3. Asset Management: BIM helps with the management and maintenance of mining equipment and infrastructure, ensuring assets are in optimal working condition.
4. Drilling and Blasting Optimization: BIM is used to plan drilling and blasting operations, optimizing hole placement and explosive usage for efficient rock
fragmentation.
5. Safety Training and Simulation: BIM can be employed for safety training and simulation exercises, allowing miners to practice responding to emergencies and
hazardous situations.
6. Environmental Monitoring: BIM supports environmental monitoring by creating models that illustrate how mining activities impact the environment and help in
assessing and mitigating potential issues.
7. Ore Flow Management: BIM can optimize the flow of ore from extraction points to processing plants, reducing bottlenecks and streamlining material movement.
8. Equipment Tracking: BIM enables real-time tracking and monitoring of mining equipment and vehicles, enhancing safety and asset utilization.
9. Dust and Air Quality Control: BIM can help assess and control dust and air quality in mining areas by modeling the flow of dust and pollutants.
10.Tailings Management: BIM is used for designing and managing tailings storage facilities, ensuring the safe containment of waste materials.
11.Maintenance Scheduling: BIM assists in scheduling maintenance activities by predicting when equipment will need servicing, reducing unplanned downtime.
12.Material Handling: BIM optimizes the design and layout of material handling systems, improving the efficiency of ore and waste movement.
13.Resource Allocation: BIM supports the allocation of resources, such as personnel and equipment, to specific areas or tasks, optimizing utilization.
14.Emergency Response Planning: BIM can be used for emergency response planning, helping miners and safety teams prepare for and respond to incidents
effectively.
15.Regulatory Compliance Reporting: BIM helps in generating accurate reports and documentation for regulatory compliance, streamlining the reporting process.
University of Oulu
Tunnelling BIM use cases
(by ITA-AITES)
33 BIM use
cases listed and
described…
…from 3 source
organizations
(DAUB, ITA, IFC)... …for 8 different
project stages.
University of Oulu
Tunnelling vs. Mining
project stages APPENDIX A - BIM Use Cases
An example of existing tunnelling project stages being converted into mining equivalents.
University of Oulu
Suitable BIM use cases for Construction &
Production project stages in mining (1/2)
1
Visualization (public relations work)
Visualization of the design including existing buildings and infrastructure.
2
Health and safety design environment
Consideration of all safety
-relevant aspects in the model, especially through the representation of the construction sequence with
time; Rule
-based checking of escape routes, bottlenecks, closed zones, escape and rescue possibilities; Analyses of working
conditions; Consideration of environmentally relevant aspects (closed areas, hazardous substances) in the models (especially
in
the 4D simulation of the working sequence).
3
Surveying
To transfer geometrical constraints and input parameters from the 3D models for the structural design of underground structur
es
...
connect existing and preconstruction condition surveys, evolve data through construction / as built etc.
4
Logistics planning
Digital planning and checking of space management, delivery possibilities, supply and disposal etc. with the model; Determina
tio
n
of the effects on logistic capacity of changes to the model; Simulations / variant studies of various logistic solutions incl
.
representation of the requirements of health and safety and environmental protection as well as time and cost effects.
5
Defects management
Documentation of defects and the corresponding remedial measures in the digital model.
6
Structure documentation
Creation of „as built“ BIM models; Documentation of the construction process with comprehensive defects management.
7
Monitoring
Monitoring of ground deformations during tunnelling.
8
Cost estimation and cost calculation
Model
-based and structured quantity determination; Linking of the 3D model with cost data.
9
BIM / structural / FE model co
-
ordination
Co
-ordination of domain-specific sub-models by combining models in coordination software for detecting interferences.
10
Sustainability
Incorporation of sustainability parameters in the BIM model with the target to support quantifications 'for EG, carbon conten
t' and
provide data for variant investigation.
11
Coordination of specialist design work
Assembly of each specialist model to one coordination model; Checking of the specialist models for collisions with other disc
ipl
ines.
12
3D ground modelling
Provision of all geotechnically relevant data over the entire course of the project; Use of the data as input quantities for
fur
ther use
cases; Constant updating of the model as knowledge is gained.
13
GIS
Integration of GIS data into the BIM environment to improve design co
-ordination and clash analysis.
14
Change management
Handling of deviations identified in construction progress controls … as well as changes during the design process.
APPENDIX A - BIM Use Cases
University of Oulu
15
Geological documentation
Assessment of geotechnical risk along tunnel route.
16
Digital Twin (in the design stage)
Creation of a coordinated workflow to set a single source of truth between digital models in the design development,
e.g., between the Structural model and BIM model, Hydraulic model and BIM model.
17
Construction Scheduling
Model
-based scheduling of construction; Linking of individual construction elements from the structure model with the
associated activities in the schedule; Representation of the project structure in the schedule structure and the BOQ
structure.
18
Quantity determination
Basis for cost estimation, tendering, billing, logistics, planning as well as during construction for billing and payment
purpose.
19
Compliance management
Automated checking of compliance of the tunnel design with norms and regulations.
20
Machine guidance & control
Steering a tunnel boring machine through the ground on the basis of the as
-designed tunnel axis.
21
Production of construction drawings
Working drawings, also in 2D, are generated from the structure model.
22
Construction progress control
Recording of the actual progress of construction and prompt comparison and adjustment to the intended situation;
Digital documentation and stepwise recording or acceptance of construction activity by official inspector or client’s
construction supervisor.
23
As built documentation
Handover of the as
-built model, import into Asset management systems .
24
Invoicing of construction works
Use of the model, which is promptly updated with the on
-site excavation classes and any additional and/or reduced
quantities of support measures, as the basis for the payment of excavation works, taking into account the associated
time
-related costs; Use of the "construction time model“ in BIM.
25
Digital Twins (Asset Management)
Advanced asset management is expected to leverage a Digital Twin of a tunnel, in the form of a continuously updated
digital mirror of the current conditions.
26
Handover to GIS
Provide the basis for regional / national transportation asset management (network level, programmatic needs analysis).
27
Use for operation and maintenance
Provision of a facility model with all relevant data for operation; Data administration and updating at a central location
(database).
Suitable BIM use cases for Construction &
Production project stages in mining (2/2) APPENDIX A - BIM Use Cases
University of Oulu
… and finally, two more specific MineBIM use cases:
Using assistive machine control based on the BIM model, the operator can see on the computer
screen where the boundary between the stope backfill and the ore is, so that the bucket does not
start digging vertically into the backfill material or leave the ore unloaded at the bottom of the stope.
Emptying the stope (underground mining unit)
The loading machine can be controlled
either remotely or automatically. The stope
loading process takes place on top of a
previously backfilled stope along the entire
length of the stope, which is several tens of
meters long.
Novatron
Dassault Systemes
University of Oulu
Human-Environment-Computer
Interaction and Mixed Reality
➢Imagine a “Dark mine” that no longer has any fixed lights nor
physical markings, spray-painted survey markings, warning
signs, guidance signs, road signs, traffic lights, area restriction
fences, work site instructions or anything that used to convey
information manually to people walking around the mine...
➢All information about the mine's physical environment is
stored in data warehouses and information models (BIM).
➢You can walk around the mine with a device that allows you to
see everything (AR) as clearly as in daylight and have access
to all information and activity data related to your
environment.
➢Any manual information you previously saw on tunnel floors, walls, and ceilings, such as markings, warning
signs, traffic lights, and area restrictions, is now processed virtually (DT and xR) only.
➢You can see all the activity information about the surrounding equipment and selected workflows, safety
instructions, and even the geological features of the surrounding rock that have been added to the physical view
that you can see in front of you with your own eyes. Everything is always available, up-to-date and on-line.