Harmonized Intelligent Modeler for Geological Volume Simulation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current geological mine planning (GMP) systems face challenges in accurately simulating underground mining due to disparate simulations and lack of a unified understanding among multiple roles, leading to incomplete representations of mine and ore deposit geometry, which results in economic losses from ore loss and dilution, and hinder effective stope and blast design improvements.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a computer-based method and system that uses data fusion, inference, and predictive modeling to create a unified geological volume model, incorporating variables and their confidence intervals, allowing for the determination of mining confidence and ore quality, and enabling visual interpretation of sub-volume analysis confidence, thereby integrating expert knowledge from various roles into a single harmonized representation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple roles perform separate simulations, then each role can focus on their specific expertise, but the overall simulation accuracy deteriorates due to lack of integrated understanding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate role-specific simulations into a single integrated simulation framework. Different roles (geologists, mine planners, geotechnical engineers) contribute their expertise through a unified system that combines their respective models and data, allowing the system to maintain the benefits of specialized input while achieving comprehensive simulation accuracy that individual roles cannot achieve alone.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple representations of mine and ore deposit are maintained, then each role can use their preferred representation, but a unified understanding deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central integrated model as an intermediary that receives and harmonizes inputs from multiple roles using different representations. This intermediary model serves as a common reference frame that translates and integrates diverse role-specific representations (geological models, mine plans, geotechnical data) into a unified understanding, preventing information loss while preserving the flexibility of individual role representations.
3Productivity
If economic and time factors constrain measurements, then project feasibility is improved, but measurement precision of mine and ore deposit deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts measurement parameters and data collection priorities based on economic and time constraints. The integrated simulation framework identifies which parameters have the greatest impact on simulation outcomes and focuses measurement efforts on those critical parameters, while using modeling and inference to estimate less critical parameters. This allows the system to maintain project feasibility under constraints while preserving measurement precision for the most important ore deposit characteristics.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Embodiments provide methods and systems for modeling a proposed geological volume. One such embodiment begins by digitally creating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a geological volume that includes one or more variables, each of which is a mathematical factor in an analysis confidence of one or more sub-volumes of the volume. Next, standardized values for each of the one or more variables are defined. In turn, the analysis confidence, e.g. mined, ore quality, etc., of the one or more sub-volumes is mathematically determined. Finally, the model is updated to include the determined analysis confidence of the one or more sub-volumes.