Improvement in operational continuity and risk management based on the integration of bench geotechnical condition and monitoring

Authors: Vargas, M; Bello, J; Calderon, C Download Paper

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2135_28

Cite As:
Vargas, M, Bello, J & Calderon, C 2021, 'Improvement in operational continuity and risk management based on the integration of bench geotechnical condition and monitoring', in PM Dight (ed.), SSIM 2021: Second International Slope Stability in Mining, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 445-456, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2135_28



Abstract:
Knowing the spatial distribution of the geotechnical face condition and the geometric reconciliation of the pit construction allows the operating geomechanical team to provide the location of sources of rocks that could fall, and the retention capacity that the berms available provide; this is relevant information for the management of risks that affect the continuity of the mining plan, compromising the economic value of the project (NPV). Active areas warned by the geotechnical monitoring and potential instabilities identified near the operation also deliver records to support measures that improve the compliance of the mining plan. A methodology which combines tools that automate the reconciliation of bench construction and the compliance analysis with the identification of possible instabilities helps to improve the compliance of the weekly short-term plan and sequencing. In this way, it is possible to duly warn the operation about the situations the drilling and loading teams will face daily. This work proposes characterising the risk level of the daily units of the extraction plan according to the presence of active areas in the vertical line on the extraction polygon, geotechnical face condition, effective retention capacity of the berms located above the extraction polygon, and presence of containment elements, such as barriers and parapets. Finally, we propose a discussion about the reduction of uncertainty of the NPV or increase on it, which one can access based on:

Keywords: risk, safety, operational continuity, geometrical reconciliation, geotechnical bench condition, monitoring

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