The Wits Mining Institutes’ Digital Mining Laboratory, “Digimine”, will be hosting their must-attend seminar on digital mining technology on 08 - 10 December 2020 at the University of Witwatersrand Club – “Wits Club”. The seminar sheds light on digital technology trends within the mining industry and will be headlined by a keynote address by Sibanye-Stillwater’s CEO, Neal Froneman.
“The seminar is for anyone interested in digital mining in the underground environment,” said WMI director Professor Fred Cawood. “We will showcase our laboratory and our research agenda –developing digital technologies for mining applications.”
Professor Cawood said delegates will learn about the research and case studies developed in recent years by the DigiMine, the WMI and its partners. The keynote address, which will focus on Sibanye-Stillwater’s view of mining in the digital age, will be followed by a range of informative and interactive sessions highlighting technological systems for the mining industry.
“It is a unique event that provides delegates with access to information on advanced fundamental and applied research and demonstrates the value of application through real word case studies”, says Alex Fenn, Sibanye-Stillwater’s group head of innovation. “The seminar is unique in the sense that it truly bridges the gap between industry and academia, a much-needed connection given the times”.
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
- A Keynote address Neal Froneman, on Sibanye-Stillwater's view of Mining in the Digital Age, and talks by Professor Ian Jandrell (Dean of Wits University’s Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment) and Alex Fenn (Head of Technology and Innovation at Sibanye-Stillwater).
- A visit to the DigiMine laboratory, demonstrating the process within the laboratory as well as highlighting key best practice technology and systems. Selected postgraduate research students and technology partners will present their work and demonstrate their solutions – highlighting the unique and symbiotic relationship between the DigiMine's research agenda and industry in general.
- Additional case studies on best practice systems as well as opportunities for the delegates to participate in various simulated environments as individuals and groups.
HERE'S WHAT ATTENDEES HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE 2019 CONFERENCE
“21st century skills are required now, urgent need to respond is required”
Sphiwe Dube
“The importance ‘to see’ with digital eyes, in areas where you are not able to see with your own eyes.”
Kelly Anne Clarke
“ The presentations from the Digi Miners who completed their MSc assisted in showing that each dissertation is a valuable contribution to having a complete idea of what a digital mine is going to look like.”
Nosipho S Mageza
“The focus on specific themes is brilliant”.
Gerard T Mohapi
“Appreciate visit to DigiMine Laboratory and real-life mockups of research in progress.”
Nicky Swanepoel
ABOUT DIGIMINE
The digital mine laboratory at Wits is an exciting project where the Chamber of Mines building on West Campus was converted into a ‘mine’, complete with surface (using the flat roof of the building), vertical shaft (using a stairwell in the fourth quadrant of the building) and mock mine with control room in the basement. The mock mine has a life-size tunnel, stope, lamp room and other features. For more information visit https://www.wits.ac.za/wmi/digimine/
ABOUT THE WITS MINING INSTITUTE (WMI)
The WMI conducts and facilitates multidisciplinary research, encouraging partnerships to ensure a sustainable business model. Its flagship programme is the digital mining laboratory (DigiMine), where its focus is to conduct tests, research and development for transferring surface digital technologies into the underground mining environment. It also identifies and develops skills required to operate 21st century, technologically-intensive mines, which feed into a programme for developing modern skill-sets at artisan, technician and professional levels for the mining sector. For more information visit https://www.wits.ac.za/wmi/