Students investigate, through a process of conceptual design, how research and development results, including potentially disruptive new technologies, might be incorporated into the mining cycle. Students will be given advanced technical papers and asked to identify the drivers for change to the mining process. Students will work in project teams to investigate the implications of selected new technologies and how they might be used in existing operations or incorporated into a mine of the future. The core of the course is conceptual design – while detailed technical calculations will be necessary, students will be required to make realistic assumptions regarding unknowns and uncertainties in the design process. Economic, environmental, and health and safety impacts will be identified, as well as engineering challenges associated with the new technology. Each student team will present a final report outlining the potential positive and negative consequences of introducing new technology, and identifying and justifying additional research necessary to further develop the technology. Industry advisors will be included in the course delivery and will attend the final presentations. PREREQ: successful completion of all third year courses in Mining Engineering. (exp 3) cr 3.
