An example in Advanced Planning for Mine Closure, Hunter Valley, Australia
Abstract
In order to approach mine closure planning in a strategic way, Rio Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA) appreciated the need to make closure planning a part of the feasibility stage of a coal mine project. With assistance from consultants Sinclair Knight Merz, RTCA developed a methodology for the use of 3D Analysis and Visualisation Tools to support the communication of proposed mine closure outcomes to government authorities and external stakeholders, including local communities.
The project utilised the intuitive nature of the 3D spatial format to provide a “Visual Spatial Hub” to bring together data from designers, mine planners and environmental scientists to allow critical evaluation of the proposed mine closure outcomes, in a virtual 3D environment. The project involved using the Hunter Valley South Operations to test the methodology, with other sites to follow if successful.
The process was divided into two steps 1) Analysis and 2) Visualisation.
Analysis: The step used the power of spatial analysis to derive data for mine closure planning tasks, for example, the classification of post mine land use. A spatial analysis was conducted to derive the slope angles of the proposed final landform. Classification of slope analysis into categories appropriate for post mine land uses such as grazing, forestry and natural revegetation gives a tangible and spatially accurate output that can be used to assist with native vegetation decision making.
Visualisation: Visualisation is a method for delivering the virtual 3D environment to multiple end users, both internal and external, on standard personal computers with commercial-off-the-shelf or “COTS” hardware and software and without the requirement for specialist skills to operate. The result is a range of scaleable and customised products that include Perspective Views (static shots of the virtual 3D environment), Multi-media Animations (3D fly-throughs or walk-throughs where the user is taken on a predefined route through the 3D environment) and Interactive Visualisation Clients (customised desktop applications where the user can control the way they navigate through the 3D environment).
In the Hunter Valley South pilot, data was collated on the proposed final landform developed with considerations of mine closure outcomes and integrated with existing GIS data such as topography, photogrammetry and infrastructure survey. A virtual 3D Environment was then constructed and delivered to a variety of technical professionals for review.
The intent was to use Perspective Views in the reports to government authorities, as illustration and support of the report text. The interactive application would then be available for navigation during meetings between RTCA and the authority.
The review step triggered queries of the proposed landform design. The result being the interactive application became part of the landform design process by effectively and intuitively communicating internally the proposed post closure outcomes and facilitating revisions and improvements to the landform design itself.
The result for Hunter Valley South was a 3D resource that supported the early planning for mine closure process and provided a valuable tool for collaborative design and planning for technical professionals.
Author
M. Andrews Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM), Australia
A. McMullen Rio Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA), Australia
S. Grimshaw Rio Tinto Coal Australia (RTCA), Australia