Handbook

This course addresses the changing role of technology within different sectors of the mining industry:

• The impact of that technology on industry performance (economic, safety, social, skills needs etc.)
• The management needs associated with that technology

On completion of this course the student should be able to demonstrate:

• An understanding of the key drivers within a range of mainstream mining systems, and the role that technology plays in that system performance.
• An ability to analyse the technology needs of a mining situation or system, within the overall mine performance measures - be they economic, safety, social, etc.
• An understanding of the management requirements associated with the evaluation, implementation and ongoing operation of changing technologies in a mining context.

The course provides:

• An overview of different mining operations and core technologies involved
• Historical and recent trends in mining technology developments
• The dynamic management needs of changing technologies, especially in different resource and economic environments

Some specific technology management issues addressed include:

• Mine economics and the economic drivers, including relativity between capital and operating costs(esp. labour costs)
• Capital justification and performance auditing
• Background material relating to OHS issues, risk assessments, ergonomic considerations etc.
• Intellectual Property (IP) issues