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Application of simulation and optimization to support mine plan execution
Colin Eustace (Head of Simulation, Deswik), and Katherine Hynard (Senior Data Analyst, Deswik) discuss the application of simulation and optimization to support the execution of mine plans. This extended abstract has been reproduced with permission from Mining Engineering and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration Inc.
Simulation unlocks haulage efficiency at Carrapateena, cutting delays and optimizing fleet performance in BHP’s high-throughput underground operation
Discover how simulation can unlock underground haulage efficiency in The Rock Wrangler's article, featuring Deswik's Head of Simulation, Colin Eustace and his presentation at the 2025 AusIMM Underground Operators Conference.
How an innovative methodology transformed strategic decision-making in a greenfield polymetallic project
Deswik conducted a strategic mine planning study for an greenfield polymetallic project using the APEX to develop an optimal Life-of-Mine (LoM) plan, enhancing decision-making and maximizing Net Present Value (NPV) through a novel, time-driven structured optimization approach.
Automated draw management and loader dispatch optimization
By implementing and leveraging Deswik ORB, a tier-1 mining company with a large block cave optimized its planning and scheduling processes.
Advancing underground autonomy
New and enhanced features of the ORB Live / Autonomous module take autonomous dispatch and real-time dynamic cave management to the next level and pave the way for fully autonomous underground operations.
Unlocking critical resources through fully autonomous mass mining
Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is assembling a stack of technologies that will allow full autonomy, from planning through to execution, for underground mass mining operations.
An interview with Russell Vance
Russell Vance, Deswik’s Regional Manager for North America, discusses how Deswik is investing in its data management and operational solutions to help mining companies improve efficiency and standardize processes.
Exploiting hidden capacity and other efficiencies through optimal bulk rail logistics planning
RACE Planner optimized bulk rail logistics for a major agricultural supply chain operator in New South Wales and Victoria by automating train scheduling, improving network access, reducing planning time, and maximizing asset utilization.
Mining supply chain optimization with Gurobi
Deswik, in collaboration with Gurobi, optimized mining supply chains with RACE Planner, improving resource utilization, throughput, and profitability for stakeholders, and achieving a 10-30% increase in efficiency and significantly reduced planning cycle times through automated planning and scheduling.
Modernizing rail operations with a real time train management system
Deswik's RACE Live software modernized rail operations in Central Queensland by automating data entry, schedule management, and compliance tasks, leading to improved efficiency, accurate train tracking, and timely maintenance.
Determining optimal production capacity by modeling the greater coal network
As a decision support tool, RACE Planner helped a coal mining company in central Queensland optimize production capacity by modeling the coal network, identifying bottlenecks, and providing insights for strategic planning and efficient resource utilization.
Maximizing coal velocity through complex mining value chains
RACE Planner helped a major coal terminal operator on Australia's east coast maximize coal velocity, increase terminal throughput, improve planning precision, and generate faster, more accurate schedules by synchronizing inbound and outbound operations.
Using RACE to operate one of the world's largest interconnected coal networks
RACE Planner optimized scheduling for a major coal rail network, maximizing capacity, minimizing maintenance disruptions, and boosting overall efficiency and throughput.
Maximizing crew utilization using optimization in rail haulage operations
Deswik's RACE Crew module, powered by Gurobi, optimized crew schedules for an Australian railroad, reducing off-duty drivers by 50%, decreasing daily driver requirements by 8%, and improving operational efficiency and labor costs while ensuring legally compliant schedules.
Efficiently allocate crew to depots and undertake strategic studies
RACE Crew automates crew allocation for a large railroad, ensuring legal compliance, adherence to bargaining unit agreements, optimizing key performance indicators, and enabling crew planners to model various operational scenarios for improved decision-making and crew utilization.
Optimizing crew schedules to improve operational efficiency
In a joint case study with Gurobi, read how RACE can quickly generate optimal crew allocation plans that save customers time and money.
Optimizing one of the world's most complex coal supply chains
With RACE Planner, the Hunter Valley Coal Chain Coordinator (HVCCC) optimized one of the world's most complex coal supply chains, improving efficiency, reducing planning time, and enhancing decision-making through automated planning and synchronized operations.
Miners must act fast to mitigate data-related health and safety risks
Jay Gillon, Deswik's Business Development Manager for North America, advocates for the swift adoption of modern data management systems to mitigate the industry’s health and safety risks.
Boliden unlocks faster workflows and operational efficiencies with Deswik MDM
After implementing Deswik MDM, Boliden saw significant risk management and operational improvements, enabling them to better facilitate collaboration and deliver consistent results across the mining and metal value chain.
Getting the most out of Deswik’s Support services
Mark Vanderbeek, Deswik's Global Support Manager, discusses how Deswik Support can assist customers, and how to get in touch.
Sandvik acquires MCB Brazil, Deswik’s reseller partner in Brazil
Sandvik has signed an agreement to acquire MCB Services and Minerals, a seller of mining software and services and Deswik’s exclusive reseller partner in Brazil.
Deswik welcomes Polymathian Industrial Mathematics following Sandvik acquisition
Polymathian signs an agreement to be acquired by Sandvik, joining Deswik as part of Sandvik's Mining and Rock Solutions Business Unit.
Deswik expands local presence to India
Deswik will continue to support India in its drive for efficient and sustainable mining operations with a local presence in Gurugram, Haryana.
A new approach to pit optimization
In every mining venture, determining the ultimate pit limit remains the core challenge for mine planners to ensure a successful project. Despite advancements in mathematics and software technology, the complexity of pit optimization has yet to be solved in a single equation.
Maximizing underground project value using Pseudoflow in Deswik's mine scheduling solution
Learn how Senior Mining Consultant, Jun Liang, from ORELOGY Mine Consulting applied Pseudoflow in Deswik's mine scheduling solution to increase project value for an underground mine.
Deswik delivers an integrated survey solution that enables seamless data flow
Deswik has partnered with international leading hardware provider RIEGL to deliver a holistic solution for mine surveyors.
Sandvik acquires Deswik and launches new Digital Mining Technologies Division
Deswik has signed an agreement to be acquired by Sandvik, the high-tech and global engineering group headquartered in Sweden.
Deswik acquires mining mobile apps
Deswik has extended the digital capabilities of mining operations with the acquisition of a suite of mobile apps developed by MineOps Software.
Agnico Eagle's Kittila mine achieves productivity gains through dynamic shift planning
Agnico Eagle's Kittila mine faced challenges with aligning long-term, medium-term, and operational schedules. After implementing OPS, Kittila achieved faster shift changes, centralized planning, and visibility on plan conformity, boosting communication, collaboration, productivity, and decision-making.
Deswik MDM provides technical data management efficiency for OZ Minerals
The implementation of MDM has enabled Prominent Hill to increase their productivity by providing critical data management, transparency, and governance.
Deswik continues its overseas expansion drive with Brazilian acquisition
Deswik has stepped up its overseas expansion push by taking a minority stake in its longstanding Brazilian reseller partner MCB Services and Minerals.
Guidelines and Considerations for Open Pit Designers
It is important to remember that software assists the design process, not the design itself. The design is controlled by the engineer doing the design. Julian Poniewierski (formerly Deswik) explains in this article guidelines and considerations for designing your first pit.
Pseudoflow Explained
Julian Poniewierski (formerly Deswik) discusses Pseudoflow pit optimization in comparison to Whittle LG pit optimization.
An integrated solution for improved performance
To enhance oversight and medium-term planning, Anglo American partnered with Deswik to develop a comprehensive software package for designing and scheduling mine operations.
Making geological mapping part of the bigger planning picture
Deswik Mapping's capabilities has enabled Vale's Ontario mines to improve the way they collect and store geological data. With their technical staff all working from one platform, they have achieved consistency in their geological mapping processes.
Significant increase in NPV for underground metal mining operations
By automating and optimizing the scheduling of 80,000 production and development tasks, APEX significantly increased the Net Present Value (NPV) of one of the world's largest underground metal stoping mines by over 30%, ensuring compliance with more than 230 planning constraints.
Automating and optimizing complex coal supply chain systems
BOLT revolutionized the coal supply chain for BHP Mitsui Coal (BMC) by automating and optimizing processes. By transitioning from manual planning to a centralized, cloud-based platform, BOLT slashed plan generation time from a full day to under an hour. This enhancement not only boosted supply chain performance but also elevated the planning team's capabilities, leading to more optimal planning decisions.
Significant increase in NPV for greenfield potash mine
With APEX, a greenfield potash mine was able to address their Life of Mine challenges, increase their Net Present Value (NPV) by 11%, and significantly reduce planning time from 38 hours to 2 hours.
Maximizing Net Present Value for the world’s largest coal deposit
With BOLT, Adaro MetCoal maximized the Net Present Value (NPV) of the world's largest undeveloped metallurgical coal deposit in the Maruwai Coal Basin. BOLT enabled Adaro to evaluate and prioritize the development sequence of their seven concession areas and timing of processing and logistics infrastructure investments. This resulted in a 50% difference in NPV between the best and worst scenarios, equating to billions of dollars in potential improvement.
Maximizing profit by automating and optimizing coal supply chain systems
With BOLT, Bengalla Mining Company improved their coal supply chain efficiency. By automating and optimizing planning processes, BOLT increased profit margins by 10% and significantly reduced planning time from weeks to minutes.
Using simulation to maximize throughput in a complex mining value supply chain
Newcrest collaborated with Deswik to develop a real-time optimization tool for managing LHD loaders at Cadia Valley, reducing congestion and improving efficiency, which led to a 20% productivity boost.
Maximizing NPV for an iron ore value chain using industrial mathematics
BOLT helped a leading global mining company maximize the Net Present Value (NPV) of their iron ore value chain. By centralizing and automating planning efforts, BOLT improved optimized blending and stockpiling decisions, and aligned production with demand. This resulted in a 10% improvement in NPV, enhanced organizational collaboration, and enabled rapid "what-if" scenario analysis.
Innovative solutions for global bauxite operations
BOLT helped a global aluminium producer optimize strategic decision-making across their bauxite operations. By planning the entire bauxite value chain with high fidelity, BOLT significantly reduced planning time from weeks to hours, leading to a substantial increase in Net Present Value (NPV) and improved efficiency across the client's global portfolio.
Automating manual planning processes for one of the world's largest coal mines
BOLT automated the manual planning processes for one of the world's largest coal mines, significantly improving efficiency. The solution optimized daily material movements and processing decisions, ensuring the correct coal grade ratios were delivered to the CHPP. This automation reduced planning time from days to minutes, enhanced plan adherence, and made reporting accessible to a broader audience.
Optimizing vessel scheduling to lower costs, prevent bottlenecks and de-risk an aluminum supply chain
BOLT optimized vessel scheduling for an aluminum producer, reducing costs and preventing bottlenecks. Centralizing planning and automating schedules improved coordination across trucking, rail, and vessel loading, leading to significant annual savings in transportation costs and enhanced supply chain efficiency.
Optimizing complex supply chain decisions for an iron ore producer
By implementing BOLT, an iron ore producer improved their stockpiling, processing, transportation, blending, and vessel loading decisions, leading to a 44% increase in direct loading and higher product sales.
Using optimization and simulation to maximize mine productivity
Newcrest collaborated with Deswik to develop a real-time optimization tool for managing LHD loaders at Cadia Valley, reducing congestion and improving efficiency, which led to a 20% productivity boost.
Reducing uncertainty and improving planning processes with simulation
OZ Minerals used Deswik's ORB to model their sub-level caving operation, enabling them to understand strategic and operational possibilities before production.
World's first highly automated short interval control system for hard-rock underground mines
By implementing ORB, a major gold mining company was able to increase their mine productivity by 20% and draw compliance by 17% by optimizing real-time Load Haul Dump (LHD) dispatch decisions.
Automated equipment scheduling for optimal asset utilization and hard rock mining efficiency
Deswik's ORB equipment scheduler optimized asset utilization and efficiency for a copper-focused mining company by automating scheduling, prioritizing high-value tasks, and allowing shift bosses to focus on critical tasks like safety inspections.
Optimizing a multi-mine coal value chain to drive efficiencies, unlock revenue, and achieve cost savings
BOLT was deployed at an established, Australian coal producer to improve their logistical complexities across multiple planning horizons.
Maximizing profitability by using optimization based decision support
By automating cargo assembly planning and product delivery, RACE Planner reduced Aurizon's planning time from hours to minutes, increased asset utilization, and improved throughput, leading to higher profitability and better service levels for their customers.
Increased profitability and throughput for rail-based supply chains
With RACE Planner, Pacific National, one of Australia's largest rail freight businesses, optimized their rail-based supply chains by automating planning processes, reducing planning time, and increasing asset utilization, resulting in improved profitability and throughput.
Improving profitability for a global flour producer with industrial mathematics
With BOLT, a global flour producer optimized their supply chain and production processes, reducing raw material requirements by 50% and improving profitability by 13%. BOLT enabled intelligent stockpiling, cost-effective shipping, and grain procurement, considering the complexities of fluctuating raw commodity availability, logistical constraints, and diverse customer demands.
Agnico Eagle's LZ5 mine boosts productivity with real-time conformance to plan tracking
Agnico Eagle's LZ5 mine was achieving 400-500 meters of lateral development with conformance to plan at 70%. To assist in their short-term scheduling and shift management, LZ5 implemented OPS, which increased their monthly development advance to 700m, with plan conformance reaching 94%.
Block Model Knowledge for Mining Engineers - An Introduction
Julian Poniewierski (former Deswik) introduces key concepts of mineral resource block models to support junior engineers entering mine planning roles. This article provides foundational guidance on structure, use, and common pitfalls.