Development of Simulation Capability and Advanced Process Models for Rock Material, Ore, and Mineral Production

Purpose and goal

The purpose of the project has been to increase knowledge of how production processes for the aggregates and mining industries work, and how productivity and final product quality can be improved. The goals were to develop effective methodology and a platform for modeling and simulation that takes into account time-dynamic variations and behaviors. In concrete terms, the target has been divided into two parts: 1. Models that can be used for this kind of simulation; 2. A platform that makes simulations available to the project partners. Both goals have been fullfilled.

Expected results and effects

The result is that there is a simulation platform where the participating parties today can log in and simulate production in a virtual copy of their plant respectively. It is possible to simulate more plants if there is an interest. The expected effect of this project is that the aggregates and mining industries open their eyes to what digitization could mean to them; greater opportunity to predict the consequences of different events, unexpected or expected, in their facilities, and thereby optimizing production in different respects and periods.

Planned approach and implementation

Two PhD students have focused on one model area each, a technician on the simulation platform and its use in industry, and researchers as supervisors and project manager. The project has had ten steering group meetings where the participating companies received information and commented. Much time has been spent gathering data from companies through active surveys at real production plants. The structure of an early allocation of a resource for working with the platform has worked very well, enabling the PhD students to focus on models and the plants.