Mining Digital July 2021 | Page 54

DIGITAL MINING

movie where people can jump into the models they ' ve created , move around wearing a virtual headset and get a feel for the proposed environment . We can offer this decentralised virtual experience via Zoom meetings with pointing devices that can focus the collective attention of a group to comment and interact around the model .”

Accelerating sustainability with technology “ Incremental and continuous improvement in productivity , resource use , emissions , waste and energy reduction are critically needed ,” believes Ash . “ But such efforts alone are not enough to achieve ambitious targets such as the United Nations ’ Sustainable Development Goals ( UNSDGs ). That requires a fundamental transformation of underlying systems and processes , and virtual twin technologies can be the lever to operationalise sustainability at speed and scale .”

Ash also notes that mining companies are asked to provide data that extends beyond climate to questions around how they serve their full set of stakeholders , such as the diversity of their workforce , the sustainability of their supply chain , or how well they protect their customers ’ data . Each company ’ s prospects for growth are inextricable from its ability to operate sustainably and serve those stakeholders .

“ Although the rate of technology adoption and digital transformation in the mining and metals industry is picking up , it is slower than the rate at which society expects us to change . We ’ ve got this ever-widening gap between our capabilities , no matter how much they ’ re improving , and the capabilities that society expects us to have as mining companies .”

“ It ’ s all about innovation ,” she continues . “ We can support the push to decarbonise by modelling the benefits of mine electrification , automation

MICHELLE ASH CEO , GEOVIA

54 July 2021