What is Mining Software?
Mining software is a digital tool used to streamline the various processes in the mining operation, including quarry exploration, mineral extraction from open pits or underground sites, processing of raw mineral ores or other mined materials, and even mine closure. With the help of highly-specialized features like geologic modeling, drill and blast optimization, and environmental impact studies, to name a few, companies can make data-driven decisions, optimize resources, enhance productivity, guarantee safety, and balance productivity and sustainability.
Benefits
Mining is one of the most challenging undertakings because of the complexity of the processes, safety risks, and its sheer environmental impact. Upholding industry best practices and adhering to regulatory mandates are attainable with the help of mining software solutions. Here are some specifics:
- Optimizes resource allocation – Mining companies have an extensive list of raw materials, machinery, and employees to track. The software manages these assets and resources, optimizing their use and reducing wastage in the process.
- Enhances safety – While the industry has improved its operations, significantly decreasing disasters, deaths, and injuries over the years, there is still much to do to safeguard lives. Software features like hazard identification and automated reporting can help organizations achieve the goal of zero fatality.
- Guarantees sustainability – Mining plays a vital role in providing essential resources for various industries. But there is no doubt that it has negative consequences for the environment. With the software, companies can better implement responsible mining practices to minimize their impact.
- Improves analytics – Miners do not just dig soil and rocks. They also do office and laboratory work that requires appraising ores, visualizing benchings, calculating reserves, and collating certifications for regulatory agencies. All these can be analyzed using the platform.
- Enhances overall mining efficiency – With technical functionalities like drill hole data analysis, blast vibration monitoring, and integrations to specialized IoT mining devices, mine workers can accomplish their tasks efficiently, even remotely, and achieve optimal results.
Key Features
Mining industry software solutions have one of the most extensive features list. Other than streamlining administrative tasks, the platform also involves industry-specific functionalities, which may depend on the type of mining carried out (e.g., surface, underground, placer, in-situ, etc.) While it would be a challenge to choose which suits your needs best, here are some essentials that the platform should have:
- Mining template repository
- Resource and reserve planning
- Inventory management
- Equipment and site maintenance
- Incident management
- Geo-tagging
- Geologic modeling
- Drill and blast optimization
- Production monitoring
- Environmental management
- Safety assurance
- Documentation
- Analytics
- Training and education
- IoT integration
- Collaborative tools
- Mobile accessibility and offline capabilities
Selecting the Right Mining Software
Any of the prospects enumerated above will prove to be an asset to your company. Before you make your final choice, take another look at the summary of the digital solutions below:
| App Name | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
| Vulcan | No | Contact for pricing | No |
| Deswik | Yes | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| RPM MinePlanner | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| Datamine | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| Micromine | No | Contact for pricing | Yes |
| SHEQSY | Yes | $10/user/month* | Yes |
*billed annually
