Wits School of Mining Engineering and Aveng Mining collaborate

The steel shaft mock-up

Large, high-quality photographs of several Aveng Mining sites around the world, together with the design and construction of the vertical shaft theme provides not only the necessary decor to reflect a global School of Mining Engineering but also the infrastructure required for the Wits Mining Digital Mine project.

"We believe our involvement in this outstanding project will help sell good, exciting careers in mining and will allow students to experience mine infrastructure development every day as the presence of the photographs and shaft act as constant reminders of the actual career they are studying towards. It makes the faculty more attractive, interesting and relevant," said Martin Hobbs.

Extending digital mining technologies

Commented Prof Fred Cawood, head of the Wits School of Mining Engineering: "One of the issues the mining industry needs to resolve over the next five years in working towards a definition of 'What the industry will look like 50 years from now?' is the extension of digital technologies from surface to underground. No matter which methods of mining will be applied in the future, one thing is certain - the future mine will be digital. This initiative forms part of the first phase of the Wits Digital Mine laboratory and we are grateful to Aveng Mining, Gold Fields, the Mineral Education Trust Fund (METF) and the university itself for being able to make the theme of the future possible."

The first PhD student on suitable wireless technologies for mining and on-demand mine ventilation engineering systems has been registered and will install current (Smart) systems as part of their research. Said Prof Cawood: "Over time these will further be integrated with Smart surveying and mapping systems, climate control systems and (energy) savings, data processing and mine planning and decision making. The ultimate aim is to do the fundamental research required for manufacturing the Smart underground monitoring station."

"By using a digital platform, such integration of systems will allow for intelligent decisions, improved safety and health as well as cost savings through real-time monitoring, data processing, and management and control," he explained.

Researchers from various backgrounds will be required, including all Wits Schools in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE), as well as Geography, Geology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Health- and Environment Sciences and the Humanities students.

"The digital mine laboratory at Wits underpins the future of mining in South Africa and we are enormously proud of this initiative," concluded Prof Cawood.

For more information, go to www.mining.wits.ac.za.