Deswik has launched a new optimisation software tool for dozers and draglines.
Dubbed Deswik.DD, it is a sectional design and analysis tool for design, optimisation and communication for dragline or dozer push operations.
According to Deswik it allows operators to analyse and refine dragline and dozer push designs, in turn reducing running costs.
Time savings of up to 80% in overall planning time can then be reinvested in scenario analysis to find the most efficient operating plan.
It allows for the automating of repetitive section operations, time as well as integration with upstream design and reserving tools, downstream scheduling tools, and 3d-DigPlus, the leading material movement simulation package from Earth Technology.
Ian Neilsen, Deswik senior consultant, dragline engineer, explained that the area is “an engineering discipline that has seen little improvement in 15 years, and yet is a key link in the planning of many mines around the world”.
In designing this tool operators can now deliver automation of section operations both along strike and down dip, in addition to manual operations; eliminate cumbersome spreadsheeting and manual transcription of results, integrating with 3d-DigPlus; simulation with 3d-DigPlus, providing a seamless user experienc; and integrate with production scheduling so the impacts of design updates are understood immediately.
“Now that the boom times are over, we are seeing a resurgent emphasis on a fundamental approach to improving mine operations, and have built this tool with optimisation as a clear focus,” he said.
Deswik added that future releases are focusing on deeper functional integration and improving all of the frustrating and unproductive steps in best practice design and analysis of dragline and dozer push operations.