mining news
18
08.13
An exclusive photographic collection and
a mock-up of a vertical shaft were recently
donated to Wits University by Aveng Min-
ing and unveiled at a function attended by
the company’s MD, Martin Hobbs. The shaft
mock-up, constructed by Aveng Mining, oc-
Aveng Mining makes donation to Wits
cupies the centre of the stairwell through the
Chamber of Mines building that houses the
Wits School of Mining Engineering.
Large, high quality photographs of sev-
eral Aveng Mining sites around the world,
together with the design and construction of
the vertical shaft theme, provide not only the
necessary decor to reflect a global School of
Mining Engineering but also the infrastruc-
ture required for the Wits Mining Digital Mine
project.
“We believe our involvement in this out-
standing project will help sell good, exciting
careers in mining and will allow students to
experience mine infrastructure development
every day as the presence of the photographs
and shaft act as constant reminders of the
actual career they are studying towards. It
makes the Faculty more attractive, interest-
ing and relevant,” said Hobbs.
Commented Professor Fred Cawood, Head
of the Wits School of Mining Engineering:
“One of the issues the mining industry needs
to resolve over the next five years in working
towards a definition of ‘What the industry will
look like 50 years from now?’ is the extension
of digital technologies from surface to under-
ground. No matter which methods of mining
will be applied in the future, one thing is cer-
tain – the future mine will be digital. This ini-
tiative forms part of the first phase of the Wits
Digital Mine laboratory and we are grateful to
Aveng Mining, Gold Fields, the Mineral Edu-
cation Trust Fund (METF) and the University
itself for being able to make the theme of the
future possible.”
The first PhD student on suitable wireless
technologies for mining and on-demand mine
ventilation engineering systems has been
registered and will install current (SMART)
systems as part of his research. “Over time
these will further be integrated with Smart
surveying and mapping systems, climate
control systems and (energy) savings, data
processing and mine planning and decision
making,” said Professsor Cawood. “The ulti-
mate aim is to do the fundamental research
required for manufacturing the Smart under-
ground monitoring station.
“By using a digital platform, such integra-
tion of systems will allow for intelligent de-
cisions, improved safety and health, as well
as cost savings through real time monitoring,
data processing, and management and con-
trol,” he explained.
Researchers from various backgrounds will
be required and include all Wits Schools in
the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Envi-
ronment (FEBE), as well as Geography, Geol-
ogy, Computer Science, Mathematics, Health
and Environment Sciences and the Humani-
ties students.
“The digital mine laboratory at Wits under-
pins the future of mining in South Africa and
we are enormously proud of this initiative,”
concluded Professor Cawood.
Shaft steelwork mock-up in the stairwell of the
Chamber of Mines building that houses the Wits
School of Mining Engineering.
