the decade ahead IN MINING

Autonomous mining systems allow for reduced operating costs, higher productivity and, most importantly, improved safety.

Technological advances are rapidly re-shaping the industry, changing everything from prospecting and exploration to development, extraction, closure and reclamation.

The skills needed by workers are changing at an incredible rate as digitalisation, automation and data collection transform work practices.

The rewards are high for operators who can successfully harness new technologies. New solutions are becoming available to create a step change in safety, costs-profit and emissions/environmental impact.

The challenge for Australian mine operators is to know which trends are relevant and where the future potential lies.

To help map out the way ahead, WesTrac assembled a panel of industry experts, each highly familiar with trends in mining technology: Carl Hendricks, Caterpillar’s mining autonomy and solutions manager for Australia; Nakia Brewer, WesTrac’s technology and solutions manager; and Alister MacPherson, general manager for technology at WesTrac.

The panel identified some of the trends to watch by 2030 as: