JAMIE VAN SCHOOR Dwyka Mining Services is focused on sourcing and deploying best-in-class technologies to solve the human and machine complexities of mining
The growing symbiosis between human and machine could deliver large-scale improvements to the mining sector, says mining technology platform Dwyka Mining Services CEO Jamie van Schoor, who will be speaking at the Young Leaders in Mining Programme – part of the Investing in African Mining Indaba – in Cape Town. “As the tech world rides the curve on buzzwords like the Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI), mining is experiencing a sudden technology boom driven by solutions focused on safety, productivity and optimisation,” Van Schoor says.
He adds that these developments can have a positive impact if industry finds ways to better negotiate the narrative on technology’s ability to support the human as well as the machine challenges faced in the African mining space.
Van Schoor believes there are several “mission critical” considerations that the industry should consider when adopting, or adapting to, the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These include change management, connectivity, wearables, data integrity, autonomous solutions and digital twinning.
“It is critical that the capabilities of users are understood so that adoption of the technology yields a positive impact on the organisation’s workflow,” he says.
He adds that there is a definite adoption of nontraditional methods to foster new technology buy-in, such as change management specialists being incorporated on mine sites, the use of gamification training programmes, and the encouragement of mentorship programmes for organisation-wide inclusion.
In terms of connectivity, Van Schoor believes that a minewide, high-broadband and low-latency connection is a prerequisite.
Every mine has differing connectivity needs, which means a hybrid solution is often required.
He adds that, where connectivity challenges are solved, the steady embrace of mobile wearable devices will follow. Such real-time data provides the key to unlocking the benefits of short-interval control and dynamic planning for intuitive scheduling changes.
Data integrity is also on the rise, with data points expected to grow substantially.
Meanwhile, the survey and geotechnical industry is undergoing a significant shift, owing to the rise of autonomous solutions.
As industry embraces new technologies, it needs to partake in a cultural shift that considers the impacts and value addition for both human and machine on a case by case basis, Van Schoor advises.
He says that the symbiosis between human and machine is an “exciting phenomenon” that will deliver large-scale improvements for mining in the near future.
However, he cautions that new technology must be adopted with careful consideration, patience and the understanding that machines cannot replace human effort in mining – only augment it.