Field notes

Underground haulage rarely fails in one big way

Underground haulage rarely fails in one big way, it loses tonnes a few minutes and dollars at a time over the whole cycle that quickly snowballs and adds up to big numbers.

A truck waits at the loader. Another slows for a speed restriction in the decline. A bin or an orepass fills and a train waits, then the cycle backs up behind it.

On a spreadsheet, those minutes disappear into an average. In a simulation, you can see where they go.

At Terra Group, we use discrete event dynamic simulation modelling software to model underground haulage, including fleets, routes, queuing and ore handling infrastructure capacities and constraints. That lets you test more scenarios on equipment, infrastructure upgrades/utilisation, changing shift patterns or a different schedule before you spend time or money on any of them.

Planning a fleet change or a higher production target or cost per tonne reduction?

Send us a message for a free 45-minute review of your haulage plan.