Laurentian University Mining Automation Laboratory (LUMAL)

School of Engineering

Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

P3E 2C6

You can reach us by:
Telephone: (705)-675-1151 ext.2341
Fax: (705)-675-4862

The graphical designs and layouts included in the Laurentian University Mining Automation Laboratory's (LUMAL) web pages are the property of LUMAL, (Copyright ©, 1995,1996).

General Information:

Dr. Nick Vayenas Professor in the School of Engineering at Laurentian University established, in winter 1993, the Laurentian University Mining Automation Laboratory (LUMAL). This laboratory is supported by the School of Engineering and by Vale Inco Limited at Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada.

The Research Objective:       To provide research expertise in advanced mining technology and to develop strong industrial links with Canadian companies

    At present, most of the research work at LUMAL is supported by Vale Inco Limited, a mining company with a leadership role in the application of new technologies in mining operations. LUMAL's expertise is focused on the following topics:

      Engineering Analysis and System Architecture of Tele-remote/Automated Mining Systems

Since 1985, the head and founder of LUMAL (Dr. Vayenas) has been involved in and contributed to the design and implementation of prototype tele-remote/automatic underground mining equipment systems in Sweden and in Canada. In 1990, Dr. Vayenas earned a Ph.D. in the field of mining automation contributing to the analysis and implementation of a prototype remote-controlled/automatic Load-Haul-Dump vehicle in the Swedish mining industry. LUMAL has knowledge and expertise in system analysis, system evaluation and software integration.

      3-D Animation and Simulation of Mining Sequence and Equipment Systems

LUMAL is gaining an international recognition on its know-how in simulation modeling and 3-D animation tools for evaluating new mining technologies and new mining equipment concepts. LUMAL is instrumental in the application of state-of-the art PC industrial simulators and together with industrial and academic partners is presently one of the leading mining labs in understanding and visualizing mining systems and future mining concepts.

Since 1994, LUMAL has developed several simulation models of current and possible future underground mining equipment systems. The models are created using the WITNESS simulation software, by The Lanner Group and the AutoMod software by Brooks-PRI Automation Inc.. These sophisticated computer models offer the possibility to realize and visualize the potential and limitations of new technologies and implement them in the most beneficial manner.

      Dispatch and Traffic Control of Vehicle Based Transport Systems

LUMAL has developed microcomputer discrete-event simulators/animators for dispatch and traffic control of surface and underground vehicle based materials handling systems. These models assist in decision making regarding estimation of optimum number of equipment, production control and route selection for efficient material transportation.

      Maintenance Evaluation and Reliability Analysis of Mining Equipment

LUMAL has been involved in projects related to the analysis and evaluation of maintenance and reliability characteristics of mobile mine equipment. It has developed a practical methodology for mining engineers to successfully carry out maintenance studies and reliability evaluation by collecting and analyzing repair data and trends in machine failure. Maintenance studies carried out by LUMAL include evaluation of surface mining equipment as well as underground automatic trucks and tele-remotely controlled Load-Haul-Dump vehicles.

      Mining Equipment Reliability Assessment Models Based on Genetic Algorithms. This project relates to the formulation, development and testing of models for mining equipment reliability assessment based on Genetic Algorithms (GAs) using maintenance data collected from mine sites. GAs are powerful and broadly applicable stochastic search techniques based on the principles of natural selection and heredity. The reason for selecting GAs is the fact that the reliability of mining equipment changes over time due to its dependence upon several factors (e.g. the operating environment, number and quality of repairs). These factors create a combined and complex impact on the reliability function. This impact encapsulates and inherits to some degree the characteristics of the factors as they evolve over time. By using GAs, it is intended to capture the impact of the factors on the reliability function of a machine by mimicking the process of heredity and natural selection.

      Rapid Prototyping Techniques in Mining: Stereolithography for Orebody Modeling and Mine Design

Stereolithography is a well known Rapid Prototyping Technique (RPT) in the manufacturing sector. It produces a physical, three dimensional object from a 3-D Computer Aided Design (CAD) file. A stereolithography machine uses a computer controlled laser to cure a photo-sensitive resin, layer by layer, to create the 3-D part. Producing a pre-production stereolithography prototype can greatly enhance the geometric visualization of a product, accelerate the design process and improve the communication between project team members. Stereolithography is in essence rapid modeling since the generated objects do not have the physical, mechanical or thermal properties of the final product. Rapid prototyping techniques (RPTs) such as stereolithography can facilitate mine engineers and geologists to quickly and with satisfactory accuracy to visualize sections of ore bodies and evaluate alternative ore extraction techniques using 3D solid models.

Projects are administered by the Center in Mineral Exploration ResearchCentre   (MERC)

ONE-DAY COURSES OFFERED FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY IN SIMULATION MODELLING AND/OR MACHINE MAINTENANCE/RELIABILITY

For further information please call Dr. Nick Vayenas at +1-705-675-1151, ext. 2341 or Email at:nvayenas@laurentian.ca

LUMAL's Academic Partners:

•       University of British Columbia - Dept. of Mining and Mineral Process Engineering, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
•       University of Western Ontario - Advanced Communications Engineering Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
•       Department of Mining Engineering at the National Technical University of Athens, Greece.
•        Luleå University of Technology -   Dept. of Civil and Mining Engineering, Luleå, Sweden.
•       Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada.
•       Materials and Manufacturing Ontario (MMO) - Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

LUMAL's Industrial Partners:

•      Vale Inco,  Copper Cliff, Ontario, Canada.
•       Xstrata Limited, Onaping, Ontario, Canada.
•       Sandvik Mining and Construction Canada Inc.,  Lively, Ontario, Canada.
•       Boart Canada Inc., Lively, Ontario, Canada.
•       Williams Operating Corporation, Marathon, Ontario, Canada.
•       Rainbow Concrete Industries Limited,  Sudbury, Ontario, Canada.
•       Aitik Mine, Boliden Mineral AB,  Sweden.
    
•       LUMAL members 
      View a slideshow about discrete event simulation.

Interesting sites to visit:

•       The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, (CIM)  The publishers of CIM-Bulletin, a Canadian Mining Industry's leading publication.
•    Info-Mine, the Internet's Premier Mining Information Site   Instant access to up-to-date mining information from anywhere in the world.
•    The Lanner Group  (Formerly known as AT&T ISTEL) The makers of WITNESS, a two dimensional graphical industrial simulator.
•       F & H Simulations  The makers of Taylor II, a two (2-1/2) dimensional graphical industrial simulator.
•       Brooks-PRI Automation Inc. The makers of AutoMod, a three dimensional industrial simulation software
•    CSA The Canadian Space Agency
•    NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Ce programme n’est pas offert en français.
Veuillez consulter les pages en anglais pour obtenir les renseignements pertinents.